Island County prosecutors have evidence that a suspected burglar was making something other than perfumy soap in the basement of another man’s house.

Coupeville resident Clinton E. Wood was arrested in January after a neighbor discovered a suspected drug lab in the basement of the neighbor’s house.

The neighbor was in another state but noticed unusually high electrical bills.

A deputy caught Wood going into the house. He said his mother was the “cleaning lady” and allowed him to take showers in the house since he didn’t have running water, according to the deputy’s report.

Wood also claimed that a lab setup in the downstairs basement was for making botanical soaps, though police and prosecutors suspected otherwise.

The state crime lab tested chemicals from the lab and concluded that the “soap” was actually safrole oil, a carcinogenic precursor to MDMA, according to Deputy Prosecutor Chris Anderson.

MDMA is a psychoactive drug also known as “Molly.”

Other chemicals that were found in the house were also necessary ingredients in manufacturing MDMA, according to Anderson.

Prosecutors charged Wood in Island County Superior Court with residential burglary.

Anderson said in court that he may amend the filing to include a drug-making charge.

Wood’s mother was arrested but not charged.