Former Washington Commissioner Faces Illegal Firearm Sale Charges

Former charges were dismissed but new charges may come.

Former Washington Commissioner Faces Illegal Firearm Sale Charges

Former Douglas County Commissioner Mary Hunt, 71, her husband Terry Hunt, 72, and sons Russell Hunt, 52, and Derek Hunt, 46, were indicted last June on charges of conspiracy for selling firearms without a federal license. Those charges were dismissed last month at the request of prosecutors but new charges may be filed against the group. The indictment alleges unlicensed sales of six handguns between June 2011 and December 2015.

Prosecutors told U.S. District Court Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson they plan to file new charges. Investigators found evidence of the sales including detailed sales records. The group did not have a Federal Firearms License, which has been required for commercial gun sales in the United States since 1968. Federal agents seized 111 firearms from the Hunts while investigating the case in late 2015.

Plea deals were offered but the Hunts did not accept them. There was no information released about what the new charges might be.

Mary Hunt was a Douglas County commissioner from 1998 to 2010. The Hunts have remained free since being charged. If convicted of unlawful firearms sales they could face a possible prison term of up to five years and $250,000 fine, plus a maximum three years of probation.