Lizella Resident Pleads Guilty To Assaulting Federal Officers

G.F. Peterman, III, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that Bobby Leon Parrish, age 25, from Lizella, Georgia, entered a guilty plea on April 20, 2016, to assaulting a Federal law enforcement officer and using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence before the Honorable Marc T. Treadwell, United States District Judge, in Macon, Georgia. 

Through his guilty plea, Mr. Parrish admitted that on August 24, 2015, Deputy U.S. Marshals attempted to take Mr. Parrish into custody for several outstanding state warrants and failure to report to his state probation officer. Mr. Parrish pulled a firearm from his waistband and aimed it at the officers.  A search of Mr. Parrish revealed a small container of marijuana, two digital scales, two shotgun shells and crushed substance Mr. Parrish claimed was Xanax, along with the single shot shotgun.  Mr. Parrish stated that he brandished the gun because it was falling down his pants and he wanted to catch it.  He then thanked the officers for not shooting him.

Mr. Parrish’s sentencing is scheduled for July 6, 2016.  He faces a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, on the first charge and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of not less than five (5) years and not more than life in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, on the second charge.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly S. Easterling is prosecuting the case for the Government.