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Bates may change plea on charges By JILL BRISKEY A convicted Central Point rapist charged with a slew of robbery, rape and kidnapping charges is expected to change his original plea of "not guilty" in court on Monday, according to the Jackson County District Attorney's Office. Leighton Wayne Bates, 40, was arrested in May after leading police on an extensive overnight search in rural Gold Hill. Sentencing will be held 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Jackson County Justice Building. In addition to multiple rape, robbery and kidnapping charges, Bates is charged with assault, robbery, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, sex abuse, being a felon in possession of a weapon and failure to register as a sex offender. According to local corrections officials, Bates absconded from parole in February. At the time, he was living with a family member in Central Point. On April 28, police suspect Bates posed as a stranded motorist in order to kidnap and rape a Eugene teen near Springfield. Bates allegedly assaulted and raped a female victim and stole the teen's car at gunpoint. A male teen who was in the vehicle with the victim when Bates reportedly attacked was not injured. Police claim Bates then drove away and crashed the victim's vehicle in Gold Hill. A few days later, police began searching for Bates in Gold Hill after he allegedly robbed an acquaintance at gunpoint and stole the local man's pickup. Bates reportedly fired shots into the ground and drove off, stranding the victim along Kane Creek Road. Bates' parents turned him in the next day. Bates was released from the Oregon State Penitentiary on May 1, 2000, after serving time on a first-degree burglary and second-degree escape charges. He has prior convictions for first-degree rape and attempted rape. Corrections officials said Bates is considered to be a danger to women. Deputy District Attorney Karen Loomis said she is unsure what Bates' sentence will be. "That's going to be up to the judge," she said. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.