An Auburn man has been charged with second-degree burglary and first-degree theft after authorities say he broke into a SeaTac cell tower facility and stole copper wire worth $50,000, and causing nearly $10,000 in damage.

Prosecutors allege that Jason Dean Warter, 39, unlawfully entered a Verizon Wireless cell tower building on Jan. 24, 2024, and took approximately 40 feet of copper wire, according to charging documents filed in King County Superior Court.

Investigators said Warter’s fingerprints were found inside the Verizon building and on a sticker affixed to an AT&T cell tower door at the site located at 3521 S. 200th Street in SeaTac.

When deputies responded to a silent alarm at 7:08 a.m., they found the Verizon building’s door open and “obvious evidence of cut copper wires,” according to charging documents. Burglary tools were also discovered inside an AT&T/Dish Wireless building on the property.

Surveillance footage from the scene also captured a man resembling Warter, and a forensic comparison showed “his hairline, brow structure, and nose width all matched his Department of Licensing photo,” documents state.

Authorities allege Warter was not alone. When deputies arrived, they found two additional men inside a parked van on the property. The men denied entering the cell tower site and were released due to a lack of evidence linking them to the theft, according to court documents.

Warter has a lengthy criminal history, including 45 previous warrants issued since 1999, prosecutors wrote. His prior convictions include vehicular assault (2021), reckless driving (2019), and multiple theft and assault charges dating back to 1999.

“An important note – only a fraction of his cases came to King County prosecutors, and every felony case that has been referred to King County prosecutors was charged,” KCPAO told South King Media.

Due to Warter’s extensive criminal history and multiple pending cases – including a separate burglary case filed in December 2024 – King County prosecutors have requested bail be set at $50,000. They also requested that he have no contact with Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, Dish Wireless, or the cell tower property.

As of Feb. 11, Warter remained in custody at the King County Correctional Facility.

His next court appearance is scheduled for later this month.