33-year-old Jesse Bates was arrested at his home in Maine on Wednesday after allegedly driving his car onto the slopes of Sunday River Ski Resort resulting in more than $45,000 in damages.
The Oxford County Sheriff’s Office reports Bates drove his dark colored 2022 Subaru Impreza onto Sunday River in the early hours of Sunday morning. The joyride scoured deep ruts in the ski slope before Bates crashing into chairlift scan gate. Bates then fled the scene after causing significant damage to the area behind the South Ridge Lodge.
The Oxford County Sheriff’s Office worked with Sunday River Security and quickly identified the suspect, his address and the vehicle involved. The Subaru Impreza was located and showed extensive body damage consistent with a vehicle that had smashed a chairlift scan gate. Multiple unsuccessful attempts were made to find and arrest the suspect before deputies finally located and arrested Bates at his residence in The Town of Mexico.
Jesse Bates has been charged with aggravated criminal mischief and violation of conditions of release. Read the full press release from the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office below.
Oxford County Sheriff’s Office Press Release:
On Sunday March 9th, 2025, at approximately 6:30am, Oxford Country Sheriffs Deputies responded to Sunday River in Newry and investigated an aggravated criminal mischief incident that had occurred during the early morning hours.
Deputies observed significant damage to the ski slopes behind the South Ridge Lodge. There were large deep ruts in the ski slopes made by a vehicle that had also crashed into the ski lift scan gates before fleeing the scene. The damage to the slopes and the scan gates was extensive and estimated to be in excess of $45,000. Deputies worked alongside Sunday River Security and quickly identified the suspect, his address and the vehicle involved.
The vehicle, a dark colored 2022 Subaru Impreza, was located at the suspect’s residence in the nearby Town of Mexico. The Subaru had extensive body damage. Many unsuccessful attempts were made to find and arrest the suspect.
On March 12th, 2025, at approximately 8pm, Oxford County Sheriffs Deputies located and arrested 33-year-old Jesse Bates at his residence in Mexico. Bates was arrested without incident and transported to the Oxford County Jail where he was booked into the facility. Bates was charged with Aggravated Criminal Mischief and Violation of Conditions of Release.
The investigation is ongoing. If anyone has any additional information please contact the Oxford County Sheriffs Office.
-Major Dana Thompson
