Former WWU student sentenced for racist, homophobic graffiti on campus

A former Western Washington University student who was expelled after allegedly writing racist and hate-filled slurs on campus property has been given a suspended sentence.

Shayne Robert Merwin, 22, of Gold Bar, pleaded guilty on Jan. 13 in Whatcom County Superior Court to harassment and first-degree criminal trespass, both gross misdemeanors. Merwin was sentenced to 364 days in jail, with all of them suspended, according to court records.