American Man Connected to Aussie Gunmen Secures Plea Bargain with Federal Attorneys
A US man linked with the perpetrators behind the fatal Wieambilla, Australia attack that claimed six lives – among them two Queensland police officers – has accepted a watered-down plea deal.
Resident of Arizona Donald Day Jr will face court on October 21 after striking the bargain with US prosecutors.
The individual with prior convictions, referred to online as “Geronimo’s Bones”, is anticipated to admit guilt to a sole charge of unlawfully possessing guns and bullets in a arrangement to be sanctioned by the court in the current month.
Links to Aussie Gunmen
Investigators confirmed direct links between Day and the Train couple through digital communications.
This couple, along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, murdered officers from Queensland Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbor Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla, Queensland in 2022.
The Trains were fatally shot in a gun battle with law enforcement, following a protracted siege at the regional property.
US prosecutors said Day communicated via online platforms with the perpetrators during the period of the fatal attack.
Day described Queensland officers as “evil, corrupt, and wicked”, and said they should be shown “no mercy whatsoever”, informing the Trains he wanted to be at Wieambilla physically.
Court documents detailed how the couple had uploaded an apocalyptic video on YouTube after the shootings, stating police “came to kill us and we killed them”.
“Failing to stand against these evil forces makes one a coward … we’ll see you at home, Don. Love you,” the Trains expressed.
Firearms Cache and Court Case
Court documents show the defendant accumulated a collection of multiple powerful guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at a country estate in Heber, AZ, that was equipped with a gun range, gun room and sniper hide.
“The firearms and ammunition were kept in the mobile home I shared with S.S., in a room we called the ‘gun room’,” he said in the agreement filed in court.
Day said he frequently used both the weapons storage and the weapons, and also trained others on how to operate the firearms correctly.
The bargain will lead to charges dropped that relate to the accused issuing threats to public figures and federal agents.
Based on court documents, the individual had been prohibited from possessing guns and arms because of his violent criminal history.
The defendant, who has served 24 months in custody, faces a highest sentence of up to 15 years in prison or a fine of $250,000 (A$381,500), but the agreement specifies he will be judged under the low end of the legal sentencing standards.
