Cody Wilson, a 3D-Printed Gun Advocate, Was Charged with Sexual Assault
Cody Wilson, who created 3D-printed guns and fought with the U.S. government to publish instructions making it possible for anyone with access to a 3D printer to make their own, has been charged with sexual assault. The charge is a second-degree felony, which has a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Wilson, 30, allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old girl-and, according to Austin Police Department Commander Troy Officer, "if someone mistakes her age, it would be because they think she’s younger, not older." Police claim Wilson met the girl on a dating website called SugarDaddyMeet.com, and, on August 15th, had sex with her in an Austin, Texas hotel room. He then paid her $500 dollars in cash.
NOW: This court record describes the allegation against Wilson. pic.twitter.com/OLihNi79Xa
- Tony Plohetski (@tplohetski) September 19, 2018
The Austin Police Department was contacted when the girl told her counselor about the incident, and began an investigation. The girl told authorities that she and Wilson exchanged messages and phone numbers after meeting online. (On SugarDaddyMeet.com, an affidavit shows that Wilson went by the username "Sanjuro.") Wilson allegedly confirmed his identity to the girl-he told her that he was "a big deal"-and the police were able to match information from his driver's license to his profile.
According to court documents, Wilson allegedly sent the girl photos of his penis, and she sent him a nude photo. After messaging each other, they decided to meet in person at a coffee shop. The girl alleges then Wilson drove her to the Archer Hotel, where they had sex; according to authorities, hotel surveillance footage and records show Wilson and the girl at the hotel, and entering a room together. Afterwards, he gave her money then dropped her off at a Whataburger.
Wilson is most known for being a "crypto-anarchist," and for believing 3D-printed guns are a constitutional right. His company, Defense Distributed, is a site that's focused on homemade gun-making. He currently has a restraining order from a federal judge to prevent him from publishing instructions on how to print a gun because of the threat they pose, and in 2015, Wired placed him on their "Most Dangerous People on the Internet" list for his role in making guns more accessible.
During a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Austin police revealed that Wilson recently left the U.S. on a flight to Taiwan-and has missed his flight home. It is believed Wilson knew he was under investigation before he left the country, and a warrant is currently out for his arrest. "We’re also working with national and international law enforcement partners to locate him and bring him to justice," Commander Officer explained.
('You Might Also Like',)
