You might be thinking to yourself, “didn’t you report on this already?” And while there was a story a couple weeks ago about William Hayden (star of Discovery Channel’s TV show Sons of Guns) being arrested for child molestation, it looks like he’s being booked once more — this time for rape. Of a 12 year old . . .
From the nola.com:
The founder and owner of Red Jacket Firearms in Baton Rouge was arrested Tuesday evening and charged with the aggravated rape of a 12-year-old child, Casey Rayborn-Hicks, a spokesperson for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office said.
The U.S. Marshal in East Baton Rouge Parish arrested William Hayden less than an hour ago.
Hayden had a warrant out for his arrest and was apprehended in Livingston Parish as a fugitive from East Baton Rouge Parish.
Last time, Red Jacket issued a statement categorically denying the charges and indicating that the accusation was an attempt at smearing Red Jacket by someone with an axe to grind. A statement has not yet been issued this time, but we will update this article when we see it.
An associate in law enforcement has informed me that it’s often common practice (although not official procedure) to serve one arrest warrant at a time if multiple charges are being filed for crimes involving sexual offenses against children, a process that increases the expense and embarrassment to the charged individual regardless of whether the charges are true.
UPDATE: According to TMZ, the victim is Will’s daughter who is backing up the allegations. From their article:
TMZ has obtained arrest docs in Hayden’s case … and Hayden’s daughter is now backing up the allegations. She told investigators Hayden took her virginity in March, 2013 when she was 11-years-old. She said she was orally and vaginally raped almost daily, but did not report it because he threatened her physically.
According to the docs, the victim says Hayden told her, “Don’t tell them nothing, because I’m all you got.”
Red Jacket has also legally separated themselves from Will Hayden following this latest accusation, posting the following on their Facebook page:
Today, Red Jacket Firearms has received complete legal separation as an entity, from Will Hayden. We will continue to operate, although with heavy hearts and promise to do everything in our power to fill customer orders, back orders and provide support to those affected by these new developments.
More as this story develops.