Does Ecuador even have an embassy in Taipei?
Renegade 3D-printing gunsmith Cody Wilson on the run in Taipei from child sex allegations
Cody Wilson, notorious for publishing 3D-printed gun designs online, is believed to be holed up in Taiwan after US cops suspected him of sexually assaulting an underage teenager. According to police, Wilson, 30, may have fled to Taipei after he was tipped off that officers were investigating claims he paid a 16-year-old girl $ …
COMMENTS
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Thursday 20th September 2018 15:52 GMT Anonymous Coward
It doesn't. His best bet would be to try and hole up in an embassy of one of the few countries that still recognizes Taiwan as the legitimate government of all China.
The Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See (Vatican City) might take him in, though one might expect them to want him to confess his sins first, and the trouble with these alt-polycell types is they never seem to understand they've done anything wrong.
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Thursday 20th September 2018 15:51 GMT MonkeyCee
Give me six lines....
"it IS weird that people wanted by the USA always seem to get charged with sexual assault"
I think it's more a case that if the feds want someone, they will trawl through everything they've ever done and it's generally unlikely that you're getting that sort of heat and you're entire previous life was clean.
If you look at Brits being extradited to the US they almost always aren't accused of sex crimes, or have any need of slapping those on top of the existing charges.
In this specific case, it's not a historic crime (happened last month), there appears to be no question of consent (underage), there appears to be quite a lot of evidence they've already revealed (hotel cameras, site profile) and pretty much the only defense is "it didn't happen guv".
Even admitting paying for sex with a woman you totally believed to be 17 is still going to get you done for something.
If you're planning on pissing of the USA (or any world power really) then make sure your skeletons are well buried :)
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Thursday 20th September 2018 15:52 GMT phuzz
Puritans vs sex
But the USA has such weird taboos around sex, it's not surprising that they all seem to have such weird kinks. (For example.)
Of course, for the conspiracy minded, this would mean that 'they' can always guarantee they'll find some sexual weirdness if 'they' ever need to smear someone. Or what would be perfectly normal behaviour in another country (eg, being gay), can be used as a slur in the US.
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Thursday 20th September 2018 17:05 GMT Anonymous Coward
I'm of two minds about this
Yeah, it is pretty easy for the Feds to make up fake charges like this - especially involving a minor whose name would be withheld, meaning there's no way to even know if she even exists. The timing is certainly suspicious.
On the other hand, if people automatically jump to that conclusion every time something like this happens, it would almost act as a free pass to actually commit such crimes since the conspiracy theorists will believe they are made up anyway!
I don't think the US REALLY cares about 3D printing of guns though, not enough to make up charges against this guy. Because one, with current methods they are more likely to kill the shooter than the target, and two even if they're successful in preventing US citizens from releasing such plans they account for less than 5% of the world's population so someone else will.
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Friday 21st September 2018 02:01 GMT DeKrow
Re: I'm of two minds about this
> I don't think the US REALLY cares about 3D printing of guns though
Think about it as precedent. The ultra-powerful NRA manages to maintain the status quo even against mass shootings in schools. The NRA maintains it's power due to LOTS AND LOTS of guns being sold in the US. Once 3D printing matures a bit, and more reliable, bigger, more powerful handguns and rifles can be 3D-printed, then LOTS AND LOTS of guns will be getting 3D-printed rather than sold. A gun itself can't be downloaded from the internet, but blueprints can, and blueprints can be copyright-infringed.
This will eat at the heart of the happy marriage of capitalism and gun ownership that forms a part of US culture.
I think the US cares about the 3D printing of guns more than it may seem. They'll try to contain it as long as they can, but restricting the 3D printing of guns at the same time as not changing any other gun laws is hypocrisy that won't stand up to the Constitution (rightly or wrongly).
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Friday 21st September 2018 03:46 GMT Byron "Jito463"
Re: I'm of two minds about this
"The NRA maintains it's power due to LOTS AND LOTS of guns being sold"
The NRA is an educational/safety training organization that sells ZERO guns. Not one single gun has ever been sold by the NRA. I'm not quite sure what you're trying to insinuate here, but the power of the NRA comes from the members, not how many guns are sold. Whether we buy them or print them, the NRA has the same power.
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Monday 24th September 2018 03:17 GMT Geoffrey W
Re: I'm of two minds about this
RE: "The NRA is an educational/safety training organization that sells ZERO guns. Not one single gun has ever been sold by the NRA. I'm not quite sure what you're trying to insinuate here, but the power of the NRA comes from the members, not how many guns are sold. Whether we buy them or print them, the NRA has the same power."
Nope. Seems that's no longer true.
https://www.businessinsider.com/gun-industry-funds-nra-2013-1
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Friday 21st September 2018 11:34 GMT bombastic bob
Re: I'm of two minds about this
It does say one thing: if you're going to flaunt the law or an order of the court, because you're some kind of activist, don't make yourself an even BIGGER target by engaging in other more heinous illegal activities, like having sex with minors. And don't claim "they're just after me" either, because it's pretty obvious to the rest of us what's going on.
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Monday 24th September 2018 13:39 GMT rdhood
Re: I'm of two minds about this
"I don't think the US REALLY cares about 3D printing of guns though, not enough to make up charges against this guy. "
You don't know U.S. liberals. People who fear just holding a gun. People who prosecute kids for using a pencil like a gun and saying "Pow". YOU don't know squat about the U.S.
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Thursday 20th September 2018 17:04 GMT mutin
won't help
Good point but will not help. Even if the site he probably used says "Click that you are at least 17/18" that is the person's responsibility to somehow figure out the age. Otherwise it is his/her fault. Like not knowing law ...
What ever he is and what ever he did, it is really bad situation when US agencies are against you. Options are really limited.
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Friday 21st September 2018 02:01 GMT Anonymous Coward
Hispanic and Latino is consider culture . You can be Hispanic and Latino or just Latino, just Hispanic. So if you are white and born in some were like Brazil your are Hispanic It's weird but America goes even weirder. On census forms and job applications they say white not Hispanic/ black not Hispanic
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Thursday 20th September 2018 20:20 GMT Claptrap314
Upped the charge...
This feels queasy. If she presented herself as 17, what exactly is his responsibility? Was he supposed to check her ID? Be able to tell a fake from a real one?
Having said that, I expect that anyone charged with engaging a prostitute who happens to be under 17 is going to get slapped with this.
But still. Funny how he gets hit with a prostitution charge so quickly after winning the other case...
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Thursday 20th September 2018 23:33 GMT JohnFen
Re: Upped the charge...
"Was he supposed to check her ID?"
If your sexual tastes run towards the younger end of the spectrum, or if there is even the slightest bit of doubt that your potential sex partner is of legal age, then yes, you should be checking IDs. That's not a ridiculous proposition.
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Friday 21st September 2018 18:29 GMT JohnFen
Re: Upped the charge...
"If she has a fake ID you still are screwed"
I suppose that may depend on the laws in your area, but in most places that I'm aware of, this isn't true. If you were honestly conned, that's a pretty good defense.
"There are guys that met under age girls in bars and still got nailed ."
Yep, but I'll bet they didn't check ID. Of course, the better way to go is to stick with women who are old enough that this isn't likely to be an issue. Yes, there are some underage women who look substantially older than they are, but they are rare enough to not worry too much about. Unless, of course, you're picking up so many different women that the odds are greater that you'll run across one of them... but if that's the case, you might want to give your life a bit of examination.
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Friday 21st September 2018 03:38 GMT Byron "Jito463"
Come on, El Reg.
You should be better than this.
"Wilson stayed at the Archer until 9.20pm with the assault victim"
Assault victim? Assuming he's guilty, I wouldn't even attempt to justify his actions. Meeting up with girls nearly half your age - and under 18, at that - is just creepy. Having said that, it sounds from the article like it was completely consensual. So where's the assault?
That's just lazy writing on your part, something you've been doing more of lately. The reason why Trump gets away with his cries of "fake news", is because of lazy articles like this.
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Friday 21st September 2018 03:42 GMT diodesign
Re: "So where's the assault?"
It's sexual assault to have sex with someone too young to legally consent – hence the words "sexual" and "assault" on the US Marshals' wanted poster.
"You should be better than this."
You should give us the benefit of the doubt more. We've been reporting criminal investigations since 1998.
(Wilson is presumed innocent until proved guilty, and this comment and the linked article relate to the allegations made against him.)
C.
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Friday 21st September 2018 05:42 GMT Byron "Jito463"
Re: "So where's the assault?"
You claim you were just repeating their words, but none of it was in quotes. this section in particular was part of your own article, not any quoted individual:
"In a formal interview, the assault victim"
Considering it wasn't a quote, how am I to know you're quoting anyone?
As for this part:
"(Wilson is presumed innocent until proved guilty, and this comment and the linked article relate to the allegations made against him.)"
If true, why didn't you write "*alleged* assault victim"?
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Friday 21st September 2018 05:47 GMT diodesign
Re: Jito463
> Why didn't you write "*alleged* assault victim"?
Because the sentence that uses "assault victim" is already bookended with caveats: it starts "The paperwork claimed" and ends with "according to police."
Edit: I've adjusted the wording anyway, on second thoughts, to make it more human - teenager rather than the jargony "assault victim". But my point still stands.
C.
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Friday 21st September 2018 21:46 GMT kain preacher
Based on the web site I think he was set up, but the girl.
"Meeting up with girls nearly half your age - and under 18, at that - is just creepy."
But you must be 18 or older to use the site .
The charge sexual assault is bit miss leading In this context. If he had just had sex with her that would be statutory rape. In most states Sexual assault is one level below rape . Even if he is found not guilty of sexual assault his real problem is he paid a minor for sex. That's state and federal time