Texas indicts '3D gun guy' Cody Wilson for child sexual assault, 'Defense Distributed' founder faces 20 years in prison
Wow, never saw that one coming. The print your own guns proponent is a creep.
In Texas, '3D gun' guy Cody Wilson has been indicted on multiple counts of sexual assault against a minor.
Wilson rose to national attention as a self-styled advocate of 3D-printed guns, with the entities "Ghost Gunner Inc" and "Defense Distributed."
He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, plus fines.
The charges involve a female "child younger than 17 years of age" whom he is said to have solicited through the website SugarDaddyMeet.com.
From reporting by Nathan Matisse at Ars Technica, who has been following the case in Austin, Texas:
More than three months have passed since a warrant (PDF) initially went out for Defense Distributed founder Cody Wilson's arrest. That document detailed Wilson's alleged sexual assault against a female "child younger than 17 years of age" whom he reportedly solicited through the website SugarDaddyMeet.com. Last Friday, December 28, the State of Texas finally formally indicted (PDF) Wilson. The 3D printed gun advocate now faces multiple charges: four counts of sexual assault of a child, two charges of indecency with a child by contact, and two charges of indecency with a child by exposure.
These charges are all second-degree felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.
Wilson's two previously scheduled initial court appearances in November and December had each been pushed back, as often happens in cases still waiting on a formal indictment. This recent filing may make it more likely that the newest tentative date (scheduled for early February) will occur, meaning Wilson's team would need to finally appear at the Travis County Courthouse.
Today, Wilson is a relatively free man at home, out of jail on a $150,000 bond.
Ars reports that he is being monitored.
PHOTO SOURCE: US Marshals shared this image of Wilson arriving into custody in Houston on September 23. At right, his 'WANTED' poster.