John Christian Parks, Felon in Possession of Assault Rifles, Seattl…

SEATTLE, WA – JOHN CHRISTIAN PARKS, 38, of Belfair, Washington, is headed to federal prison for eight years after being convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms, including assault rifles. U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Zilly handed down the sentence today, along with three years of supervised release, following a trial that exposed Parks’ brazen disregard for the law.

The bust went down on March 30, 2013, in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. U.S. Forest Service officers, responding to reports of heavy gunfire, tracked Parks and his crew to a remote target shooting location. A witness alerted them to the group, stating they had observed armed individuals. The search yielded a chilling haul: eight firearms, four of which were high-powered assault rifles. Evidence presented at trial proved Parks illegally purchased and possessed two of those weapons.

Parks isn’t a first-timer. He’s racked up a staggering eight prior felony convictions. His rap sheet includes multiple drug offenses in Grant, Jefferson, and King Counties dating back to 2001, as well as drug manufacturing and distribution charges in Clallam and Pierce Counties. He even attempted to evade justice with an escape conviction in King County in 2004. Yet, despite this extensive history, Parks continued to acquire dangerous weaponry.

Prosecutors argued for the maximum ten-year sentence, pointing to Parks’ calculated efforts to conceal his identity while purchasing the firearms. One assault rifle was obtained over the internet using a false identity from a seller in Virginia. Two additional high-powered guns were purchased locally, with witnesses positively identifying Parks as the buyer. “The combination of his drug dealing convictions…his clear and deliberate attempts to conceal his identity…and the nature of the firearms themselves…demonstrate that Parks has no intention of complying with the law,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo. They believe he’ll likely re-offend upon release.

The case highlights a disturbing ease with which prohibited individuals can obtain firearms. Judge Zilly himself noted at sentencing, “this case illustrates how easy it is for anyone to buy firearms online or on the street.” The investigation was a joint effort by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), demonstrating the need for continued collaboration to combat illegal gun trafficking.

Special Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Hobbs and Seth Wilkinson prosecuted the case. Hobbs, a Senior Deputy King County Prosecutor, was specially designated to handle firearms cases in federal court. This conviction sends a message: repeat offenders who arm themselves with assault weapons will face serious consequences under federal law.

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