The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – A Waitsburg man was arrested Sunday afternoon and is being held in Walla Walla on suspicion of committing a string of recent, local burglaries.

Mason James Bates, 31, was charged in a preliminary hearing Monday with two counts of residential burglary, theft in the third degree, malicious mischief in the third degree, and possession of burglary tools.

A resident of Waitsburg's W. 6th Street contacted Walla Walla County deputies Sunday after he discovered his home had been burglarized and jewelry was missing. While investigating that crime, deputies learned from neighbors of a suspicious white male observed lately loitering in the neighborhood of W. 6th and W. 7th streets.

They also learned of four or five other recent burglaries in the neighborhood, according to Chief Operations Deputy John King.

Deputies became suspicious of Bates after they received a tip from Bates's father, also a Waitsburg resident, that his son may have been involved in the local crimes. The WWCSO report indicates that Bates may have confessed to his father that he'd "screwed up."

The father gave permission for deputies to search his home on W. 7th Street, where Bates also lives. Deputies recovered several items they believe match the description of items taken from neighboring homes. The possibly stolen property was found inside the home and in the adjoining carport, King said.

Bates, who works in Dayton, was arrested Sunday at 3:15 p.m. after returning home from work. He is being held in the Walla Walla County Jail on $10,000 bail.