A two-day, multi-agency operation targeting narcotics trafficking led investigators to a hotel room at the 7 Cedars Casino in Sequim. The sweep was initiated following the arrest of former Clallam County Drug Court Coordinator Johnny Watts, who was taken into custody during a standoff in Agnew on March 11. According to the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET), the incident involved the capture of wanted offender Patrick Nelson and the discovery of a loaded firearm and suspected drugs on Watts.
Following the Agnew arrests, detectives developed intelligence indicating a group from Kitsap County was distributing controlled substances in Clallam County, operating out of a room at the casino.
Casino Operation
On March 12, 2026, investigators, assisted by local law enforcement and casino surveillance personnel, moved against the group. Probable cause was established to arrest a 35-year-old man for Delivery of a Controlled Substance.
A search incident to his arrest yielded 196.37 grams of fentanyl intended for distribution, a digital scale, packaging materials, and two loaded pistol magazines. A subsequent warrant executed on his vehicle uncovered a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition. The suspect, a convicted felon with prior convictions for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Delivery/Manufacture of a Controlled Substance, is legally prohibited from possessing firearms and is currently held in the Clallam County Jail on $250,000 bail.
A 43-year-old resident of Kitsap County was also taken into custody. A search of a vehicle containing his belongings revealed a large quantity of fentanyl, a 9mm pistol, a bolt-action shotgun, and documentation of drug sales. This individual, who has prior felony convictions for Burglary and Felony Assault, is likewise barred from owning firearms. His bail was also set at $250,000.
Authorities detained a 41-year-old woman from the Key Peninsula during the operation. She was found carrying a concealed 9mm pistol without a permit and was booked for Unlawful Carry of a Firearm, with bond set at $30,000. A fourth person was questioned and released at the scene.
Operation Totals
Over the course of the two-day operation, OPNET and its partners seized the following items:
- 261.86 grams of suspected fentanyl
- 515.27 grams of suspected methamphetamine
- 30.25 grams of suspected cocaine
- 10 firearms (7 pistols, 2 shotguns, 1 rifle)
- Approximately $18,980 in cash
Systemic Concerns and Funding
The involvement of a former Clallam County court official in the distribution of drugs and possession of firearms raises concerns regarding vetting processes within the local justice system. Watts, who was previously entrusted by Judge Brent Basden and the Superior Court to coordinate rehabilitation efforts, was booked on charges of drug distribution and illegal firearm possession on March 11.
While the operation successfully dismantled the specific trafficking ring, OPNET noted in its release that the task force is currently seeking stable funding after losing access to the Byrne-JAG grant, which served as its primary financial lifeline.
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