Bellingham Naked Bike Ride Co-Founder Arrested on Child Porn Charges

Zachary Robertson pleaded not guilty and faces trial in late April.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 12:19am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a laptop keyboard with a single key highlighted, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic that conceptually represents the digital evidence at the center of this crime investigation.The seized laptop at the center of the child pornography investigation against a prominent local organizer has become a focal point for the Bellingham community.Bellingham Today

Zachary Robertson, the co-founder of the Bellingham Naked Bike Ride, has been arrested and charged with felony possession of child pornography. Police executed a search warrant on Robertson's laptop and found around 25 files containing explicit images of children. Robertson claimed the images were for reference for a children's book he wrote, but officers found his explanation suspicious.

Why it matters

The arrest of a prominent local organizer on child pornography charges has shocked the Bellingham community and raised concerns about the safety and appropriateness of the Naked Bike Ride event, which involves public nudity. It also calls into question Robertson's involvement with the Cascadia Community Land Trust.

The details

Robertson's partner called the police on March 6 after finding him viewing what she believed to be child pornography on his laptop. He attempted to delete the files before police arrived, but they were able to seize the laptop. A search warrant was granted, and detectives found around 25 explicit files of children on the device. Robertson claimed the images were for reference for a children's book he had published in 2020, but police found his explanation suspicious.

  • On March 6, Robertson's partner called the police after finding him viewing what she believed to be child pornography.
  • On March 10, Robertson was arrested after the police executed a search warrant on his laptop.
  • On the day after his arrest, Robertson was released on bail.
  • Robertson pleaded not guilty to all charges and has a jury trial tentatively scheduled for April 27.

The players

Zachary Robertson

The 42-year-old co-founder of the Bellingham Naked Bike Ride who has been arrested and charged with felony possession of child pornography.

Cascadia Community Land Trust

A local organization that Robertson was listed as being on the board of directors for, which has raised concerns about his involvement following his arrest.

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What’s next

Robertson's jury trial is tentatively scheduled for April 27, where he will face the charges of felony possession of child pornography.

The takeaway

This case has shaken the Bellingham community and raised serious concerns about the safety and appropriateness of the Naked Bike Ride event, as well as Robertson's involvement with other local organizations. It underscores the importance of thorough background checks and vetting of community leaders, especially those involved with events and organizations that involve children.