Charged with Sexual Assault, Cody Wilson Flees to Taiwan |涉性侵遭通緝 美3D印槍設計師逃來台

Last month, Cody Wilson made global headlines when he announced plans to publish blueprints for a gun that could be fully made with a 3D printer. He is now in headlines for a different reason after being accused of sexually assaulting a minor and fleeing to Taiwan. Taiwan's National Immigration Agency has confirmed that Wilson entered Taiwan but the Criminal Investigation Bureau says it has not received any notifications from the U.S. Taiwan and the U.S. don't have a mutual legal assistance treaty, and the bureau says Taiwan therefore has no legal basis for detaining Wilson. However, it will use whatever channels it can try to understand what the U.S. wants and stay updated on relevant information.


Thirty-year-old American 3D-printed gun creator Cody Wilson fled to Taiwan after being charged with sexually assaulting a minor in Texas.

Today, Mr. Wilson is not in custody and his last known location by the Austin Police Department is, was Taipei, Taiwan. We also know that Mr. Wilson missed a scheduled flight back to the United States.

Wilson is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl at a Texas hotel on Aug. 15 and then paying her $ 500. As the age of consent in Texas is 17, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Taiwan's National Immigration Bureau confirms Wilson entered the country, but says he entered Taiwan before he was charged. The Criminal Investigation Bureau, meanwhile, says it has not been contacted by the U.S. and it has no legal authority to detain Wilson as the U.S. and Taiwan don't have a mutual legal assistance agreement. Wilson developed blueprints for 3D-printed guns requiring only the same material used in Lego. This has been controversial as 3D-printed guns don't have serial numbers and are therefore untraceable.

We know Mr. Wilson frequently travels for business. We don't know why he went to Taiwan, but we do know before he left, he was informed by a friend of the victim that she had spoken to police and police were investigating him for having sex with a minor.

Taiwan says it will use available channels to try to understand what the U.S. wants and it will monitor relevant information. If or when it receives a request for assistance from the U.S., it will locate and extradite Wilson in accordance with immigration laws.