Teen arrested after stepfather discovers he’s 3D printing firearms

A Clermont teen was arrested for weapon possession after his stepfather discovered he was 3D printing firearms. 

The 16-year-old male, whose name is being withheld because he is a juvenile, was charged with possession of a short barrel rifle and five counts of possession of a firearm by a minor earlier this week. 

A deputy responded to an undisclosed Clermont residence regarding a juvenile with a firearm around 10:32 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 

Upon arrival, the deputy spoke with the complainant who advised that his stepson had been involved in an incident that day. The Clermont Police Department had responded to the juvenile’s friends calling in to say that he was in a gas station parking lot with firearms in his possession. No firearms were found at that time, though, the report said. 

The complainant continued to say that when the juvenile came home, he questioned him about the incident and if he had firearms. The juvenile admitted he had firearms that he made from his 3D printer and that he ordered parts online to make them completely functional, the report said. 

The complainant proceeded to search the juvenile’s vehicle and found an AR-15 style rifle in the backseat. The juvenile then admitted to several other handguns that he had hidden in his bedroom and vehicle. Two 9mm handguns were located in his center console area, and three additional handguns were found in his bedroom, the report said. 

While speaking with the juvenile, he advised that he enjoyed collecting firearms for the purpose of hunting and target shooting. He enjoyed 3D printing the firearm frames because he could make them unique colors and sizes. It was one of his hobbies, the report said. 

The deputy later observed the two firearms in the juvenile’s vehicle, which the report noted were both loaded with 9mm magazines. He also saw the three firearms in the bedroom. One was hidden in a dresser drawer under his clothing, one was in the nightstand next to his bed and the last was in a box above his closet. This also contained several gun parts, ammunition and magazines. The deputy also observed the short barrel rifle measuring about 10 inches, the report said. 

The deputy returned to the residence the next day with a search warrant and arrested the juvenile. He was transported to the Lake County Jail without bond.