ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - An Ocilla man was sentenced Thursday, Sept. 25 for illegal gun possession charges, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Donald Patrick Parr, a 69-year-old, was sentenced to spend 19 years and seven months in prison, the DOJ said.

Parr was found guilty in May for one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

This conviction was in reference to an incident where Parr was just outside of a Dollar General in Valdosta, according to the DOJ.

Court records report that Parr was sitting inside of a car in the parking lot of the Dollar General for over an hour. Witnesses called law enforcement – the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office – after they noticed Parr periodically falling asleep, the DOJ said.

Officials later found that Parr was wanted for drug charges in Texas, according to a DOJ press release. Authorities reportedly found just over one gram of methamphetamine, a bag of marijuana and a .22 caliber revolver inside the car.

The DOJ said that Parr had several prior felony convictions for possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute, making terroristic threats and aggravated fleeing.

“Our partnership with local agencies like the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office is vital in tackling gun violence and ensuring that those with a history of criminal behavior are held accountable for their actions.”

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2025 WALB. All rights reserved.