American Man Linked to Australian Gunmen Strikes Plea Deal with Federal Attorneys
A US man associated with the perpetrators behind the deadly Wieambilla, Australia attack that took the lives of six individuals – including two officers from Queensland – has accepted a watered-down plea deal.
Resident of Arizona Donald Day Jr. will appear in court on October 21 after finalizing the plea deal with American authorities.
The convicted felon, referred to online as “Geronimo’s Bones”, is expected to plead guilty to a sole charge of unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition in a arrangement to be sanctioned by the court this month.
Links to Aussie Gunmen
Authorities confirmed clear connections between the defendant and Gareth and Stacey Train through online posts.
The Trains, along with Nathaniel Train, killed officers from Queensland Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a remote property in Wieambilla in 2022.
The Trains were killed in a gun battle with law enforcement, following a protracted siege at the rural site.
American officials said the accused communicated via social media with the Trains during the period of the fatal attack.
Day described 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.
Legal filings detailed how Gareth and Stacey Train had uploaded an apocalyptic recording on the video platform after the shootings, saying police “came to kill us and we killed them”.
“Failing to stand against these evil forces makes one a coward … We will meet you at home, Don. With love,” they expressed.
Firearms Cache and Legal Proceedings
Court documents show the defendant accumulated a collection of nine high-powered firearms and numerous bullets of ammunition at a rural property in Heber, AZ, that was equipped with a shooting range, weapons room and sniper’s nest.
“The guns and ammo were stored in the trailer I occupied with S.S., within a space we named the 'gun room',” Day admitted in the agreement submitted in the legal system.
Day stated he frequently used both the gun room and the weapons, and also trained individuals on how to use the firearms correctly.
The plea deal will lead to charges dropped that pertain to the accused issuing threats to public figures and FBI agents.
According to legal files, the individual had been banned from owning guns and arms because of his violent criminal history.
The defendant, who has served 24 months in custody, faces a maximum penalty 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 minimum range of the legal sentencing standards.
