American Individual Linked to Australian Gunmen Secures Plea Deal with Prosecutors
An American citizen linked with the culprits behind the fatal Wieambilla, Australia attack that took six lives – including two Queensland police officers – has agreed to a less severe plea agreement.
Resident of Arizona Donald Day Jr. will face court on October 21 after striking the bargain with American authorities.
The convicted felon, known online as “Geronimo's Bones”, is expected to plead guilty to a single offense of unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition in a arrangement to be sanctioned by the court in the current month.
Links to Aussie Gunmen
Authorities confirmed direct links between Day and Gareth and Stacey Train through online posts.
The Trains, along with Nathaniel Train, murdered Queensland police officers Arnold and McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a remote property in Wieambilla in 2022.
They were killed in a gun battle with police, following a extended standoff at the rural site.
US prosecutors stated the accused communicated via social media with the perpetrators during the period of the deadly ambush.
Day described Queensland police as “malignant, malformed and malevolent”, and declared they should be shown “no mercy whatsoever”, informing them he desired to be at Wieambilla in person.
Legal filings outlined how the couple had uploaded an apocalyptic recording on YouTube after the shootings, stating authorities “attempted to kill us, and we retaliated”.
“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 Court Case
Legal records show the defendant stockpiled a cache of multiple powerful guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at a country estate in Heber, Arizona, that was outfitted with a shooting range, weapons 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 plea deal filed in court.
He stated he frequently used both the gun room and the firearms, and also trained individuals on how to use the firearms correctly.
The plea deal will result in charges dropped that relate to the alleged issuing threats to officials and federal agents.
Based on legal files, Day had been prohibited from owning weapons and firearms because of his history of violent crimes.
Day, who has completed two years in custody, could receive a maximum penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment in prison or a penalty of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the agreement stipulates he will be sentenced under the minimum range of the sentencing guidelines.
