Man accused of stealing handgun, other items from multiple vehicles at Toledo Middle School

A Tacoma man has been accused of stealing a firearm and other items from three vehicles parked at Toledo Middle School last spring.

Brandon L. Wyatt, 38, is charged with two counts of second-degree identity theft, two counts of third-degree theft, three counts of second-degree vehicle prowl, and one count each of theft of a firearm and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Both firearm charges are punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Second-degree identity theft is punishable by up to five years in prison. The remaining charges are gross misdemeanors.

Wyatt made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court Monday after being transported from the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton, according to court documents.

Wyatt is currently serving a sentence with an anticipated release in 2028, his attorney said during the hearing.

A court commissioner agreed with the state's request to hold Wyatt on $10,000 bail until the completion of his case in Lewis County.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Wyatt is accused of breaking into the three vehicles in March 2025.

Winlock police responded to the middle school and learned someone had allegedly stolen a Walther handgun from one of the vehicles. Other stolen items included two purses and a tablet.

Security footage of the school reportedly showed a silver Mercedes car and a suspect who exited the car and entered several vehicles.

The next day, one of the victims told police that a friend had their vehicle prowled in Tumwater. The friend described the same Mercedes car.

According to the affidavit, police learned that one of the victims in the Tumwater prowl "had her

iPad pinged at the Quality Inn Hotel in Lacey."

Police seized the Mercedes at the hotel and obtained a photo of Wyatt, whom they believed to be the man seen in the security footage from Toledo Middle School. They also learned of other vehicle prowls that had reportedly occurred in Kelso.

During the investigation, police discovered that Wyatt's girlfriend had allegedly rented the Mercedes using her mother's information, according to the affidavit.

"During the search related to the Tumwater case, they discovered several items that had been stolen during the Tumwater and Kelso vehicle prowls," the affidavit said.

Police also reportedly obtained a picture of Wyatt at the hotel that showed him in a green shirt that matched with the suspect's appearance in the footage at Toledo Middle School.

On Jan. 6, a judge ordered an arrest warrant with a bail of $100,000, following charges filed by the Lewis County Prosecutor's Office.

According to the affidavit, Wyatt has prior convictions for second-degree taking a motor vehicle, forgery, second-degree escape, second-degree assault, second-degree possession of stolen property, second-degree promoting prostitution and other offenses.

He was scheduled for an arraignment on April 23.

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