The gun rights activist who waged a very public legal war over the right to freely distribute 3D-printed gun schematics over the internet is facing serious charges that have nothing to do with firearms.According to a law enforcement press conference today, Cody Wilson, 30, is believed to have traveled to Taipei after learning that he was under investigation for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old.
Wilson, who travels frequently, also missed his scheduled return flight.According to an affidavit filed on Wednesday, Wilson is charged with the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl in Travis County, Texas.
The affidavit describes how Wilson, an Austin resident, began communicating with the alleged victim under the handle &Sanjuro& using the website &SugarDaddyMeet.com.The two continued talking via iMessage and Wilson allegedly identified himself to the victim and mentioned that he was a &big deal,& prompting her to find his name featured in recent news stories.
In addition to his high-profile role in the debate over 3D-printed firearms, Wilson also attracted attention when he founded Hatreon, a crowdfunding site for fundraisers that violated the rules of sites like Patreon and Kickstarter.Court victory legalizes 3D-printable gun blueprintsThe affidavit, published in full onArs Technica, details how the two met in person on August 15 at a local coffee shop and Wilson then took the victim to a hotel in a vehicle registered to his company, Defense Distributed.
The victim alleges that the sexual assault took place at Austin Archer hotel, after which Wilson paid her $500.
Surveillance footage corroborates the victim story.Austin police department is coordinating with international authorities to bring him back to the country to face the second-degree felony charges, which could be punishable by up to 20 years in prison.Update:A reporter with the Austin American-Statesman reports that the United States Marshals have issued a wanted poster for Wilson.NOW: United States Marshals release &wanted& poster for Cody Wilson, maker of so-called 3D guns.
pic.twitter.com/wJDgfS7Grmmdash; Tony Plohetski (@tplohetski) September 19, 2018