Bates Trial Set for April 7

WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg man arrested at the end of December for a string of local burglaries is scheduled for trial in Walla Walla County Superior Court beginning April 7.

Mason J. Bates, 31, was charged in early January with two counts of residential burglary, theft in the third degree, malicious mischief in the third degree, and possession of burglary tools. His arrest on Dec. 28 came after a resident on West 6th Street filed a burglary report and other tips and burglary reports followed, coming from neighbors on West 6th and West 7th streets.

Finally, a call into the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office by Bates’ concerned father led to a search of the home they shared in Waitsburg on West 7th Street, and subsequently Bates’ incarceration.

Bates pleaded innocent last week to the original charges as well as the eleven others added before his hearing. He is now accused of four counts of residential burglary, four counts of theft of a firearm, one count of second-degree theft, two counts of third-degree theft and two counts of third-degree malicious mischief.

Items reported taken from neighboring homes, according to the Walla Walla Sheriff’s Office, include jewelry, coins, and guns.

Bates was released three days following his arrest pending further investigation; he remains free, with conditions, to live at the Christian Aid Center in Walla Walla until his trial.