Bellingham Children’s Book Author Charged for Child Porn

Booking records show officers booked Robertson at 5:09 p.m. on a charge listed as “pornography/depict minor/poss.” Whatcom County Superior Court is handling the case under case number 2610026537.

Court records show the court set bail at $25,000 bond or $2,500 cash. Robertson posted bail on March 11, according to jail data. His LinkedIn profile identifies him as a co-founder of the Bellingham Naked Bike Ride. The Cascadia Community Land Trust also lists him as a board member.

Court Proceedings

Court records show Robertson pleaded not guilty to the charges. Whatcom County Superior Court has scheduled a trial date for April 27.

Court Records Outline Allegations

Court records filed in Whatcom County Superior Court outline the allegations that led to charges against Robertson.

According to a probable cause affidavit the Bellingham Police Department filed, Robertson’s wife contacted police after returning home and observing him on a couch with a laptop open and a blanket covering his lap. The affidavit states she saw one of Robertson’s hands operating the computer while he kept the other hidden under the blanket. She reported observing movement beneath the blanket near his groin area and told investigators she believed he was “touching himself.”

After confronting him, the affidavit states Robertson quickly closed the laptop and attempted to hide it. His wife then opened the computer and reported seeing a file explorer with thumbnail images, including a larger image depicting multiple young girls, approximately 7 to 10 years old, fully nude.

According to the affidavit, Robertson told investigators the images were reference material for a self-published children’s book titled “Norma Normal,” which features a child living naked in nature. He claimed he had been preparing to delete the files.

Investigators later obtained a search warrant for Robertson’s laptop. A digital forensic review identified approximately 25 images depicting nude pre-pubescent and pubescent children, according to the affidavit. The affidavit states a thumbnail cache held some of the images, indicating Robertson had recently viewed them. Detectives also noted Robertson admitted downloading images of young girls between the ages of 5 and 7.

According to the affidavit, investigators determined Robertson viewed the images for the purpose of sexual gratification. Forensic analysts had not completed their full review of the computer at the time of his arrest.