William Hayden is a former gun-smith and a founder of Red Jacket Firearms. He is well-recognized for his appearance on the TV show, Sons of Guns. While his show was catching the pace of popularity, he was accused of sexual harassment which took a new turn in his professional and personal life.

Net worth via business and TV show, Sons of Guns

William Hayden got inclined towards weapons and warfare from the young age. Raised in a family of gun owners and hunters, he originally hails from Baton Rouge. 

By 12, he started building firearms. When he was 18, he was able to get his name enlisted in marines. While serving for six years in marines, he got ranked as Sergeant. Shortly after returning home from service, he started construction and refrigeration business working alongside for custom guns.

Sons of Guns William Hayden is looking at the camera holding gun in his hands. He is standing in the gun showroom.

His side business of guns eventually started taking off after receiving a big contract for 20 AK-47s for an Arizona distributor. In 1999, he officially founded Red Jacket Firearms selling his initial business. The firm focused and built specialized portable guns and rifles. The shop was after his mother’s name ‘Osguma’ which means ‘Red Jacket’ in Choctaw.

After Disney Channel’s Sons of Guns aired on January 26, 2011, he received nationwide attention. The show which documented the customized firearms made at Red Jacket, also featured his daughter, Stephanie, and son-in-law, Kris Ford. They also used to work at Red Jacket. He has a net worth of $1.75 million.

Accusation of sexual abuse by younger daughter

William Hayden was involved in an accusation of sexual harassment while his show was gaining popularity nationwide. In 2014, the show was canceled after William was arrested for allegedly raping his younger daughter. 

William Hayden is looking to the camera with a subtle smile on his face. He is wearing Grey collor T-shirt.

His daughter accused him of abusing her orally and vaginally. Prior to that, he was arrested for raping a young girl multiple times when was 11 and 12 in 2013 and 2014. Also, he allegedly raped a girl who is now in her late 30s, in the early 90s twice when she was 12 and 13 years old. Hayden was in his mid-20s. After that, he was arrested on molestation charges and crimes against nature.

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Following that, his oldest daughter, Stephanie even came forward to back up her younger sister. While appearing in Dr. Phil show, she revealed that her father stepped into her room while she was sleeping. He pinched, kissed her and even tried to remove her clothes. However, she managed to escape the crime, and that thing didn’t repeat.

Where is he now?

After found guilty of all the charges, Hayden was convicted to two counts of aggravated rape and one count of forcible rape. On May 11, 2017, he was convicted to 3 life sentences with plus 40 years. He is not eligible for any parole, probation, or suspension of sentence for his brutal crime. 

William Hayden posing for the camera with his Sons of Guns cast members, his daughter, Stephanie and son-in-law.

Sons of Guns William Hayden is married to Rachel Hayden. The pair shares two daughters. As of 2018, he is spending mandatory term of life behind bars in Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola.

Transcript

William Hayden a former gunsmith, U.S. Marine and gun shop owner, who received nationwide fame for appearing on ‘Sons of Guns.’

He starred in the show from 2011 till the show was canceled in 2014 after he was accused of sexual harassment.

One of his accusers was a 15-year-old girl, who claimed that Hayden raped her multiple times in 2013 and 2014.

Another victim claimed that Hayden raped her twice in the early 1990s when she was 12 and 13 years old.

Amid the two claims of harassments, his eldest daughter Stephanie (also appeared in ‘Sons of Guns’) claimed that her dad sexually abused her about 20 years ago.

Now, he has been sentenced to 3 life sentences plus 40 years in 2017.

He was born as William Michale Hayden in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on June 24, 1965.

A firearms enthusiast from a young age, he grew up reading about weapons and warfare.

He survived a large house fire when he was just three or four years old.

In an episode of ‘Sons of Guns,’ he stated he was abused by his father when he was five years old.

Afterward, he realized that he has to battle for the victory and started building firearms by age 12.

As an 18-year-old, he joined the Marines and served for six years achieving the rank of Sergeant.

After returning home from service, he started his construction and refrigeration business and also began working on guns on the side.

In 1999, when his side business of guns began to take off, he sold his primary business and officially founded Red Jacket Firearms.

He named the company after his mother’s name, Osguma, which means ‘red jacket’ in Choctaw.

Hayden received global attention while appearing on ‘Sons of Guns,’ the reality TV show focusing on the specialized firearm builds at Red Jacket.

On Aug. 26, 2014, it was announced that Red Jacket Firearms had received a legal separation as an entity from Hayden.

He is married to Rachel Hayden and has two daughters with her.

His eldest daughter Stephanie and her husband Kris Ford also appeared on the show and worked at Red Jacket.