Federal Complaint Details Drug and Weapons Charges Against Former Drug Court Coordinator and Co-Defendant
A federal criminal complaint provided to The Olympic Herald by the U.S. Attorney’s Office details a multi-agency narcotics investigation that has led to federal drug distribution charges against Johnny F. Watts Jr., a former Clallam County Drug Court Coordinator, and a newly named co-defendant, Jonathan E. Karns.
Following the dismissal of state-level charges earlier this week, the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Tacoma formally charges both men with possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute.
The eight-page affidavit, authored by FBI Special Agent Ted Halla, outlines the seizure of significant quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and multiple firearms.
According to the complaint, the investigation escalated on March 11, 2026, when detectives with the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team followed Watts and an acquaintance, identified as “P.N.,” to a residence on Kate’s Court in Port Angeles.
When a regional SWAT team surrounded the home to serve an active Department of Corrections warrant on P.N., Watts was detained outside the residence.
Deputies reported finding a firearm, suspected crack cocaine, and two small bags of fentanyl on his person.
P.N. subsequently engaged in an approximate three-hour standoff with law enforcement before surrendering.
A search of a bedroom associated with Watts uncovered a large cache of narcotics and weapons. Investigators seized a shotgun and a black Under Armour backpack containing 183.65 grams of methamphetamine, nearly 24 grams of fentanyl powder, and roughly 23 grams of cocaine, alongside heroin, fentanyl pills, an electronic scale, and a “pay/owe” sheet.
Hidden beneath the mattress, detectives located an additional bag containing approximately 458 grams—just over a pound—of methamphetamine. An AR-style rifle with no identifiable serial number was found elsewhere in the home.
The federal complaint states that on March 12, Watts requested an interview with OPNET detectives at the Clallam County Jail.
After waiving his Miranda rights, Watts allegedly confessed to dealing methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, estimating his profits at $1,000 per week.
Watts reportedly directed investigators to his supplier, claiming he had purchased a large quantity of drugs early the previous morning at the 7 Cedars Casino in Sequim.
Detectives corroborated the claim using casino surveillance footage, which allegedly showed Watts carrying his black backpack into hotel room 1527 and exiting a short time later with the bag appearing noticeably fuller.
Acting on Watts’s information, OPNET detectives executed search warrants at the casino hotel later that day. During the operation, investigators observed Jonathan E. Karns carrying a red backpack from the hotel room to a parked 2010 Lexus IS.
Karns was detained and, according to the affidavit, denied any involvement in illicit drug activity.
However, a court-authorized search of the red backpack recovered from the vehicle yielded 44.45 grams of fentanyl, a small amount of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and a loaded Glock 9mm handgun.
Both Watts and Karns are identified in court documents as previously convicted felons, which legally prohibits them from possessing firearms.
Due to the high volume of the narcotics seized, the defendants face severe federal penalties. Watts is charged under a statute involving 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture, while Karns faces charges involving 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture.
The case is now being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tacoma, where both defendants are scheduled to make their initial appearances this afternoon before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.