CHEHALIS, Wash. - A Chehalis man accused of lying to flood relief workers has been arrested and jailed, accused of pretending to be a flood victim and accepting relief aid.

The Lewis County Sheriff's Office says 42-year-old Ted Cherry was arrested Thursday after his stories were questioned by United Way workers. Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield said Cherry admitted to having lied to the workers.

Cherry had walked into the United Way Relief Center, caked in mud and crying, claiming his 20-acre farm had been destroyed in the storm. Cherry said he lost everything, including his animals and an antique grand piano, and said he was contemplating suicide.

That's when no less than five volunteers stopped in their tracks to help.

United Way gave the man clothing and cash cards for groceries and gas. One worker used her own credit card to put him up for a week at a hotel.

"He just made it look so real," said Rachelle Miller, a volunteer.

"He's a con artist," said Cherry's own mother, Gennie Kline.

Kline said she doesn't have an ounce of sympathy for what he has done.

"I'm totally disgusted with what I've seen, totally. I'm not surprised," she said.

Kline said she believes her son took much more than the gifts the volunteers gave him.

"There was all kinds of toys under the Christmas tree, there were bagfuls. He had clothes and food," she said.

Volunteers learned of Cherry's trick when they found out his address had never flooded.

"The more you asked him questions and looked into his eyes, you could tell something wasn't right," said Debbie Campbell, the center's executive director.

Cherry got the sheriff angry.

"Not going to drop some paper on you, you're going to jail. It's going to be an uncomfortable visit for you," Mansfield told Cherry.

Cherry also got the donors angry.

"I think people need to step up to the plate and help people in need and not try to steal from somebody. I think that's pretty dirty of somebody," said donor Joe Craig.

And Cherry even got his own mother furious. Kline said her fast-talking son has a history of theft, fraud and abuse.

"'Yes, sir, no, ma'am.' Honey drips from his tongue, but it's not honey," she said.

The sheriff's office says Cherry told detectives once he started lying to United Way he couldn't stop because they were so sympathetic.

Cherry is being held in jail on $10,000 bail, and Kline said she does not plan to bail him out. Kline also said family members have returned the clothing and other items Cherry took from the United Way.

Records indicate Cherry spent two years in prison in the past for abusing his grandmother.

If found guilty, Cherry could be sentenced to up to a year in jail.