Burglary suspect pleads not guilty

The man caught with a bleeding hand near the broken window at a Langley break-in scene pled not guilty in Island County Superior Court on Monday.

Scott Watts appeared in Island County Superior Court before Judge Alan Hancock for his arraignment. Court officials said he pled not guilty to second-degree burglary charges. Watts was charged by the Island County Prosecutor’s Office on April 9.

It was his second appearance for an arraignment. In April, Watts had asked the judge for a two-week extension to find a lawyer.

The 25-year-old Langley man was arrested April 6 after officers found him with a bleeding hand near Quilting by the Sea in Langley Village. He was found shortly after the owner reported an attempted break-in.

Police arrested Watts and collected blood samples at the quilting shop, and also at the South Whidbey Commons across the street where a break-in had occurred earlier. Officers found blood at both scenes.

Watts allegedly told officers the night he was arrested that the blood at the quilting shop was his, according to court records.

Watts was intoxicated when he was arrested, Langley police said.

Watts has had a number of prior problems with the local police, according to reports of law enforcement officials.

Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said Watts has a pending charge in Island County District Court for first-degree criminal trespass. He also has convictions for brandishing a weapon from 2002 and a driving under the influence conviction from 2006, Banks said.

Watts is due back in court May 27 for a pre-trail hearing.

His trial is set to start July 29.

Contact South Whidbey Record Island Life Michaela Marx Wheatley at mmarxwheatley@southwhidbeyrecord.com or (360) 221-5300.

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