A Massachusetts man accused of using a 3D printer to make guns faced a judge on Monday. The suspect was banned from owning firearms, but police found several at his home this past weekend.
Charles Santos, 34, was arraigned in Plymouth District Court for his alleged possession of an array of weapons, including some that were 3D-printed. He was ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing.
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Police say it started with a video of the suspect showing off his guns to someone else. They say it's unclear if that video was a threat but what is clear is that Santos is not legally allowed to have guns based on his criminal history, according to prosecutors.
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Yet, according to police, Santos had an AR-style riffle, firearm accessories, a 3D printer, 3D-printed gun parts, body armor, steroids and other items.
Police said they found all of this during a search warrant at Santos' home on Howlands Lane in Kingston, Mass., on Saturday as part of a days-long investigation into illegal gun possession.
"An individual with steroids and illegally possessed firearms, not a great combination," said Kingston Police Lt. Michael Skowyra.
The 34-year-old had posted bail following his arrest over the weekend but in court Monday, prosecutors successfully argued for his detainment until his next hearing later this week despite his lawyer's argument that he's been clean and sober for 10 years, while working.
Santos will remain behind bars until at least later this week when he has a dangerousness hearing on Thursday.
Police say this case is the latest example of a terrifying trend involving untraceable firearms.
"This is a very serious crime," said State Rep. David Linsky. "It endangers the public."
Linsky is trying to crack down on them in a bill that just passed in the House. It would make it illegal for any gun dealer to sell the so-called ghost guns and require all parts to be stamped with serial numbers.
"They're falling through a crack in our law," Linsky said. "It's a loophole."
Police say there's no evidence that Santos planned to use his for mass violence, but they say they feel a lot safer knowing they are out of his possession.
"You'll never know what you prevent in this work but at the very least if it didn't prevent something, it could have," Skowyra said.
Police say they have reason to believe Santos has more guns somewhere other than his home because they found parts and packaging for them but not the guns themselves.
