A 22-year-old man remains in custody following a first appearance hearing Monday afternoon where a judge found probable cause for Attempted Kidnapping in the Second Degree with a deadly weapon enhancement.

The defendant, identified in court documents as Cristien X. Bugge-Marcum, is accused of targeting an 8-year-old girl while she was playing outside on her block in West Seattle on April 25.

The Alleged Incident

According to the police probable cause document, the victim was sitting on a tree stump approximately 35 to 40 feet from the sidewalk on SW Othello Street when Bugge-Marcum approached her. The victim told investigators that the man tapped her on the shoulder and then gripped her arm, attempting to pull her down a driveway and behind a neighbor’s home.

A juvenile witness reported seeing Bugge-Marcum pulling the victim with his left hand while holding a knife in his other hand. The witness alerted an adult, and the suspect fled the scene after the victim screamed.

Police later identified Bugge-Marcum through neighbor surveillance footage, which showed a man leaving the area roughly 30 seconds after a scream was heard. While the defendant confirmed to police that he was the individual in the footage, he denied touching any children.

Arguments in Court

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office initially argued for a charge of Attempted Kidnapping in the First Degree, requesting $750,000 bail.

The defense strongly contested the severity of the charge and the bail amount, noting that Bugge-Marcum has no prior criminal history and "adamantly denies" the allegations. His attorney characterized the prosecution's case as containing "quite a lot of speculation and thinking of the worst-case scenario," adding that the defendant had been cooperative with law enforcement. Bugge-Marcum’s mother also spoke, describing her son as non-aggressive and calling the allegations "mind-blowing".

However, the court heard a harrowing statement from the victim's parent, read by a victim advocate, which stated the incident had robbed the child of her sense of safety. "It is only because of our local neighbors and our greater community watching out for one another’s children that an awful tragedy was averted," the statement read.

Current Status

The judge expressed significant concern for public safety, setting bail at the requested $750,000. As a condition of any potential release, the defendant is prohibited from having contact with minors or possessing dangerous weapons.

While the court found probable cause for the arrest, formal felony charges have not yet been filed. Prosecutors expect to receive a full case referral from Seattle Police investigators by Wednesday, April 29, to make a final charging decision.

Under the law, Bugge-Marcum is presumed innocent until proven guilty