Hollister man accepts plea deal after drug, gun arrest

A Hollister man arrested in March on gun and drug charges after a traffic stop has pleaded no contest and is set for sentencing.

Nathan R. Parra, 18, pleaded no contest to possessing a controlled substance and loaded firearm, and is set to face a sentence of felony probation, according to court records.

His sentence hearing is at 9 a.m. July 25, and court notes indicate the prosecution does not object to the felony probation result.

He was initially charged with other charges, too, such as transporting narcotics, possession of a controlled substance, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, carrying a loaded firearm in public, resisting arrest and possessing a large-capacity magazine.

According to the Hollister police statement released after the arrest:

On March 2, 2018, at about 10:45 P.M., Officer Nick Rudolfs was on patrol in the area of Powell Street and A Street when he spotted a vehicle with no headlights or taillights. As the officer attempted to make a traffic stop, the vehicle sped away.     

Officer Rudolfs found the vehicle abandoned on Glenmore Street. The driver of the car had run away from the vehicle and left it open. During the course of the investigation the officer found a loaded firearm with a high-capacity magazine.  The magazine is capable of being loaded with 31 rounds of ammunition. Cocaine, marijuana and items used to sell drugs were also found in the vehicle. 

During further investigation, Officer Rudolfs was able to positively determine that Nathan Parra (18), a Hollister resident, had been driving the vehicle. Parra was subsequently contacted and arrested. 

Parra was booked into the county jail on charges of carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, possession of a controlled substance while armed, possession of a large-capacity magazine, possession of controlled substances for sale, transporting controlled substances for sale and obstruction.