Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Washington have filed a motion seeking to keep former Clallam County Drug Court Coordinator Johnny F. Watts Jr. in custody prior to his trial. The government contends that Watts poses a significant danger to the community and is at high risk of fleeing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elyne M. Vaught argued in the filing that no specific release conditions could reliably guarantee his appearance in court or ensure public safety.
The prosecution relies on a statutory provision that creates a rebuttable presumption for detention when a defendant faces a federal drug charge with a potential maximum sentence of ten years or more. The motion asserts that probable cause exists to believe Watts committed the alleged offenses. A hearing to determine his pretrial status is set for June 10.
In a related development, Watts has retained a local defense attorney, John D. Black, who is based in Port Angeles. Black filed a notice of appearance with the court to represent the former coordinator.
Watts’s co-defendant, a Port Angeles man identified as Jonathan E. Karns, has taken a different legal approach. Represented by Federal Public Defender John R. Carpenter, Karns filed an invocation of his constitutional rights. This document formally halts further questioning by law enforcement unless his attorney is present.
The filing explicitly asserts Karns’s Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and his Sixth Amendment right to counsel. It also serves to revoke any previous waivers of these rights and rescinds any prior consent given to police for searches.
Earlier court records indicated that Karns was detained outside the 7 Cedars Casino on March 12. At the time of his arrest, he reportedly denied involvement in the case. Subsequent searches of a red backpack found in his possession yielded a loaded Glock 9mm handgun and 44.45 grams of fentanyl.
Karns is scheduled to appear before the court on June 15 for his own detention hearing. Both defendants are currently being held at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac.
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