Felon had 12 guns, 12k ammo rounds
A convicted felon accused of illegally possessing guns had 12 firearms and more than 12,000 rounds of ammunition when federal agents searched her home last week, a new grand jury indictment alleges.
Donna R. Perry, alias Douglas Perry, 60, pleaded not guiltyTuesday to a federal charge of felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. She's been in jail since she was arrested March 14 at her home near North Crestline Street and East Empire Avenue.
A judge on Tuesday recommended Perry undergo a mental health evaluation.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives began investigating Perry after a retired detective contacted them March 12 and said he'd observed Perry buying ammo and a pistol magazine at the White Elephant store, 12614 E. Sprague Ave., in Spokane Valley, according to court documents. The detective knew Perry is a felon prohibited from possessing firearms.
Agents identified Perry in part through a photo the detective took of her blue 1992 Geo Metro.
They learned from the Washington Department of Licensing that the owner had changed his name from Douglas Perry to Donna Perry in 2000 and had changed his gender from male to female. Police compared a driver's license photo of Perry to the photo provided by the detective.
Federal agents say Perry had 12,499 rounds of ammunition in her home, as well as various pistols, rifles and shotguns.
Perry has felony convictions for possession of an unregistered firearm (pipebombs) in 1988 and felon in possession of firearms and ammunition in 1995.
She pleaded not guilty to the new federal indictment Tuesday in U.S. District Court and remains at the Spokane County Jail without bail.