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Robbery suspect faces rape, kidnap charges By MARK FREEMAN A convicted Central Point rapist sought by police since February posed as a stranded motorist to kidnap and rape a Eugene girl in late April before his arrest Wednesday, authorities said. Leighton Wayne Bates, 40, allegedly used the disabled motorist con on April 28 to kidnap two Eugene teenagers, one male and one female, at gunpoint in the teens' car before assaulting the girl and crashing the car in the Gold Hill area, according to the Oregon State Police. Bates was arraigned Monday in a Jackson County courtroom on charges of first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping, being a felon in possession of a weapon, two counts of first-degree rape, one count of first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree assault stemming from that incident, authorities said. Bates had been in jail on robbery, kidnapping and other charges for allegedly kidnapping and robbing an acquaintance at gunpoint May 1 in Gold Hill. The new charges were added as part of an Oregon State Police investigation. Judge Rebecca Orf set Bates' bail at $2 million for the new charges. When added to the $1 million bail already in place for the May 1 kidnapping, Bates now sits in the Jackson County Jail in lieu of $3 million bail. State police detectives in Central Point and Springfield, along with officers in the agency's forensics lab in Central Point, are still investigating the case, the OSP said. Bates has served time in the Oregon State Penitentiary for rape, attempted rape, burglary and escape convictions and is labeled a high-risk sex offender who is considered a danger to women. He absconded from parole in February and had eluded capture until his arrest Wednesday in Gold Hill after his parents tipped authorities that Bates attempted to enter their home earlier that morning. On April 28, the Eugene teens believed they were helping a disabled motorist on Interstate 5 when they picked up Bates, who asked for a ride to a remote site in the Gold Hill area, the OSP said. Bates then pulled out a handgun and ordered the male to leave and the girl to remain in the car, the OSP said. Bates then sexually assaulted the girl, and later crashed her car over an embankment before letting her go, police said. OSP detectives added several felony charges to Bates on Saturday. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.