³ÉÈËXÕ¾

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Bellingham man guilty of stealing funds from homeless nonprofit he co-founded

Jul 1, 2024, 7:13 AM | Updated: 10:04 am

bellingham homeless nonprofit...

A tiny home village in Bellingham the nonprofit HomesNOW! Not Later runs and operates. (Photo courtesy of HomesNOW! Not Later)

(Photo courtesy of HomesNOW! Not Later)

A Bellingham man has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $75,000 from a nonprofit he co-founded to help the homeless.

According to , a judge sentenced James Lee Peterson, 67, to 60 days in jail in addition to paying back $47,000 after he pled guilty to one count of first-degree theft at a felony level.

More local crime: Former welder sentenced to 66 months jail after breaking into Tumwater credit union with blowtorch

The nonprofit Peterson stole from is called , an organization that runs and operates tiny home communities for unhoused people. HomesNOW! currently operates two tiny home villages — Unity Village and Swift Haven — in Bellingham.

From June 2017 to September 2019 — the first two years of the nonprofit’s existence — Peterson was illegally siphoning funds, according to court records obtained by The Bellingham Herald. Peterson reportedly withdrew funds from the nonprofit’s business banking account and used the money at casinos and local businesses in Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Peterson’s guilty plea and subsequent sentencing came nearly five years after charges were filed against him. He was arrested Nov. 1, 2019, following a monthlong investigation by the Bellingham Police Department, but left custody three days later after posting a $10,000 bail.

More local crime: Federal Way police respond to man shot in leg

According to The Bellingham Herald, Peterson’s court case was continued 27 times, partially due to delays the COVID-19 pandemic caused the Washington court system.

“The HomesNOW board is relieved that Mr. Peterson’s case has finally been resolved after a prolonged period,” Doug Gustafson, chairman of HomesNOW! Not Later, said in a June 25 statement to The Bellingham Herald.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

More local guilty verdicts

MyNorthwest News

opioid settlements Oxycodone pain pill...

Julia Dallas

Washington could receive $16 million as part of nationwide opioid settlements

Washington stands to gain $16 million from nationwide opioid settlements, aiding efforts to combat the ongoing crisis.

12 minutes ago

King County Assessor John Wilson...

Julia Dallas

King County Assessor John Wilson suspends campaign for county executive

John Wilson, King County Assessor, halts his campaign for county executive amid allegations he violated a restraining order.

2 hours ago

Amazon Prime Day sales drop...

Jason Sutich

‘Still early in the event’: Amazon defends 41% Prime Day sales drop report

Amazon reports $7 billion in sales on day one, down 41% from last year, addressing concerns over declining momentum in Prime Day events.

4 hours ago

southbound sr 167 wsdot...

Nate Connors

Southbound SR 167 to remain open this weekend

The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has decided to keep Southbound SR 167 open this weekend amid a flurry of upcoming highway closures.

4 hours ago

lacey man arrested...

Frank Sumrall

Man arrested in Lacey for seventh time in last 14 months

The Lacey Police Department confirmed it arrested a man for the seventh time in the last 14 months.

4 hours ago

big oil lawsuit climate change heat dome...

³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio Newsdesk

Seattle family sues Big Oil over 2021 heat dome death

The family claimed climate change caused the extreme heat that killed Leon. The lawsuit was filed by Julie Leon's daughter.

5 hours ago

Bellingham man guilty of stealing funds from homeless nonprofit he co-founded