Freeland man sentenced to electronic monitoring after threatening newspaper and others

At a Nov. 18 hearing in Island County Superior Court, 61 year old Graham J. Lau pleaded guilty to two counts of felony harassment, four counts of telephone harassment, one count of harassment and one count of making a false or misleading statement to a public servant. Judge Carolyn Cliff accepted a plea agreement under which both the prosecution and defense recommended 18 months of electronic home monitoring, a term the judge imposed after hearing arguments about Lau’s health and risks.

Court records and law enforcement reports detail a string of disturbing calls and messages to individuals and to the Whidbey News Times following a published story about Lau. Deputies verified that Lau was at his home in Freeland watching a movie when he sent messages to the newspaper office that prompted staff to be sent home early because of threats that caused substantial fear and alarm. The threats included language about shooting up the office and violent references that alarmed employees.

Other incidents cited in reports included a voicemail left for a Langley man asking for a ride that escalated into threats to cut the man’s head off with a machete after the man did not respond. At WhidbeyHealth Medical Center deputies recorded threats by Lau against Deputy Nicholas Hathaway, including statements that he would go to Hathaway’s home and force medication on him. Responding medics found no blood and Lau refused aid on scene. A taxi driver and a neighbor were also involved in investigative reports, and the driver confirmed she was not threatened.

Defense attorney Claire Highland told the court that Lau suffers from significant health problems, including severely infected legs, and that the jail could not provide the around the clock care he needs. The plea agreement originally recommended nine months in jail, converted to an 18 month electronic home monitoring sentence to address those medical concerns. Lau will be required to undergo a mental health evaluation and comply with any recommended treatment. He was ordered not to have contact with any victims, including Stensland and any employees of the Whidbey News Times.

Lau has two prior felony convictions. In court he said, "I’m sorry for wasting everyone’s time." When handed a citation earlier he said, "Sorry about that." After being told he could not contact victims and that apology letters would not be permitted, he said, "OK, I’m sorry." The judge warned that such threats "make a real impact on people." She added that victims had no way of knowing that he wasn’t going to make good on his threats "so they just hear the very scary comments." Despite his guilty pleas Lau asked if he could sue Stensland for "defamation of character."

For Island County residents the case highlights the intersection of public safety, media protection and access to mental health care. Local newsrooms and law enforcement must balance investigation and reporting with protections for staff, while the court system navigates how to hold individuals accountable when medical needs complicate traditional incarceration.