CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Plea bargain for Arbor Heights man accused of stalking U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal

Almost a year after Brett Forsell of Arbor Heights was arrested following an incident outside U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal‘s West Seattle home, Forsell pleaded guilty today to one count of a reduced charge, misdemeanor stalking. He was originally charged with felony stalking. We learned about today’s plea and sentencing hearing by finding newly filed court documents tonight. In a written statement, Forsell admits to harassing Rep. Jayapal “by repeatedly driving in front of her house, stopping my car, yelling at her house, and driving off late at night.” Prosecutors say that according to neighbors and security video, the yelling on the night of Forsell’s arrest included exhortations for her to “go back to India” and to kill herself. Forsell was armed with a semiautomatic handgun when arrested by police. The plea bargain documents say that after pleading guilty today, he was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Jennifer Atchison to 340 days in jail, all of which he was decreed to have already served (via a combination of jail and electronic home monitoring). Other conditions include an “anti-stalking order” protecting the victim that includes a prohibition on gun ownership for eight years, plus a requirement for mental health, alcohol, and drug evaluations. Forsell, 49, also will be on unsupervised probation for the next two years.

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy June 29, 2023 (9:15 pm)

This seems like too little for a felony of this nature.

WSB June 29, 2023 (9:58 pm)

As noted, in the plea bargain the charge was reduced to misdemeanor (Washington state law says stalking can be either felony or gross misdemeanor).
- West Seattle Mad Sci Guy June 30, 2023 (12:01 am)
  
  Fair. Still disturbing. I’m thinking from the perspective of being the victim. I’m obviously a nobody and the victim in question is not.
  - Scarlett July 1, 2023 (9:40 am)
    
    Makes no difference. Equal treatment under the law, Congresswoman or janitor.
    - heartless July 1, 2023 (7:30 pm)
      
      If only. Still, a standard to which we should aspire.

Chrissy D June 29, 2023 (9:33 pm)

Hmmmmm. So what’s changed with his mental health in the last year?

Jeannie June 30, 2023 (1:01 am)

Sounds like the creep got off way too easy.

Beto June 30, 2023 (7:09 am)

He really got off very easily. We didn’t even got to see a photo of him! How’s that possible?
- WSB June 30, 2023 (2:56 pm)
  
  He has not served time, nor will he under this now-complete wentence, in state prison. They are the only agency that makes head shots available to media. Otherwise, local authorities only do on very rare occasions when they are putting out a BOL for somebody.

SpencerGT June 30, 2023 (6:18 am)

What he did was weird.

James June 30, 2023 (7:29 am)

So glad none of the commenters here are judges. They don’t have any nuance or understanding of sentencing. They just want everyone locked up forever.

shotinthefoot June 30, 2023 (4:57 pm)

He threatened a congresswoman with death, simply because he’s an ignorant magat. His a** should be in Gitmo. If I were the judge, that would be it. Screw nuance. There is no “nuance” to what he did.
- Scarlett July 1, 2023 (9:44 am)
  
  Gitmo? The facility where prisoners were tortured with waterboarding? Come on.

helpermonkey June 30, 2023 (8:29 am)

He’s just going to do it again after this little slap on the wrist. Crazy + bigot + magat – such a winning combination. If it were up to me, this fool would never see freedom again.

Jay June 30, 2023 (10:21 am)

A stalking hate crime with death threats, calls for suicide, and standing outside the victim’s house with a gun needs far harsher punishment. It’s way too easy to get a gun, which is evidenced by the guy who shot Eina Kwon. He was also banned from owning a gun but had no problems obtaining one. At 49 this guy isn’t changing. He’s going to hurt or kill someone soon. I don’t understand why this was misdemeanor stalking and not felony stalking due to the violent threats, element of hate, and the weapon involved.

Ross June 30, 2023 (11:17 pm)

That gun was stolen..

1994 June 30, 2023 (10:34 pm)

Appreciate the follow up info about the accused, and now sentenced, stalker of an elected office holder. Mr Forsell seems to have ‘got off’ easy with his obnoxious and irrational behaviors. I sure hope there is follow through with the requirements for mental health, alcohol, and drug evaluations, and prohibition of gun ownership. If he has unsupervised probation for the next 2 years who will be monitoring his progress of the requirements?

anonyme July 1, 2023 (6:10 am)

One of the claims made by Mr. Forsell was that he was homeless. How then was he on electronic home monitoring? I live very close by and it concerns me that I don’t/can’t know what the creep looks like.

D-Mom July 1, 2023 (5:30 pm)

As others have said, this is far too light of a sentence to deter him or others from this kind of behavior. Thrilled to have this guy back in the neighborhood (not).

wondering July 1, 2023 (7:37 pm)

agreed. too light a sentence for this offense. If he stole a gun once he’ll do it again. Some of the laws protecting victims, especially women, don’t kick in fully until the victim has been hurt. Thats a dumb way to do justice.

ArborRes July 5, 2023 (1:42 am)

As a member of an ethnic minority who lives in the same neighborhood where this incident took place (I believe the individual lives in the same area), I am concerned that this seemingly unstable man is roaming freely and, worse, that his probation would not be supervised. Is it possible to know what he looks like, so I have some chance of avoiding or escaping him should I run into him? If he needs drug and/or mental health counseling, how can we be certain he will accept it? Showing up with a loaded gun at someone’s doorstep and making threatening remarks (tinged with xenophobia) warranted more than this response from our judicial system.

Sorry, comment time is over.