American Man Linked to Australian Gunmen Strikes Plea Bargain with Prosecutors
An American citizen associated with the perpetrators behind the deadly Wieambilla, Australia attack that claimed the lives of six individuals – including two Queensland police officers – has accepted a less severe plea deal.
Resident of Arizona Donald Day Jr will appear in court on 21 October after finalizing the plea deal with American authorities.
The individual with prior convictions, known online as “Geronimo’s Bones”, is expected to plead guilty to a sole offense of unlawfully possessing guns and bullets in a deal to be sanctioned by the court in the current month.
Connections to Aussie Gunmen
Authorities confirmed direct links between the defendant and the Train couple through digital communications.
This couple, along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, killed Queensland police officers Arnold and McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a remote property in Wieambilla, Queensland in 2022.
They were killed in a final shootout with police, following a extended standoff at the rural site.
American officials stated the accused corresponded via online platforms with the Trains around the time of the deadly ambush.
Day referred to Queensland officers as “evil, corrupt, and wicked”, and said they should be shown “absolutely no quarter”, telling them he desired to be at Wieambilla in person.
Court documents detailed how Gareth and Stacey Train had uploaded an apocalyptic video on YouTube after the incident, stating police “came to kill us and we killed them”.
“If you don’t defend yourself against these devils and demons, you’re a coward … we’ll see you at home, Don. Love you,” the Trains expressed.
Firearms Cache and Legal Proceedings
Court documents show the defendant stockpiled a cache of nine high-powered firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammo at a country estate in Heber, Arizona, 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’,” Day said in the plea deal submitted in court.
He stated he regularly accessed both the gun room and the weapons, and also instructed individuals on how to use the guns properly.
The bargain will result in dismissed counts that relate to the alleged making of threats to officials and FBI agents.
According to legal files, the individual had been banned from owning weapons and firearms because of his history of violent crimes.
The defendant, who has completed 24 months in detention, could receive a maximum penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment in jail or a penalty of $250,000 (A$381,500), but the plea deal specifies he will be judged under the low end of the legal sentencing standards.