Hayden's Angola Prison Incarceration: What You Need To Know

Will Hayden, former star of the reality TV show 'Sons of Guns', is currently serving three life sentences at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola Prison. Hayden was convicted of multiple sexual offences, including rape and aggravated incest, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Angola Prison, located around 50 miles northwest of Baton Rouge, is the largest maximum-security prison in the United States, with a reputation for harsh living conditions and a massive prisoner population.

Will Hayden's life sentence

Will Hayden, a former reality TV star, was sentenced to life in prison for rape and sexual assault. Hayden, who starred in the show 'Sons of Guns', was convicted of raping two girls between the ages of 11 and 13 over a period of two years. He received two life sentences, to be served concurrently, as well as an additional 40 years in prison for the aggravated rape and forcible rape charges. Hayden was also charged with aggravated incest of his oldest daughter, a former co-star on the show, and sentenced to an additional 10 years in prison.

Hayden's sentence will be served at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, which is located about 50 miles northwest of Baton Rouge. The prison is known for its harsh living conditions and massive prisoner population, with 6,300 inmates currently housed within its maximum-security confines. Hayden will have no chance of parole and will remain in prison for the rest of his life unless his convictions are overturned.

The charges against Hayden led to the immediate cancellation of his show, 'Sons of Guns', which ran for five seasons on the Discovery Channel. The show centred around Hayden's family gun shop, Red Jacket Firearms, and was once the most-watched television show in America.

Hayden's fall from grace was swift and shocking, as he went from being a famous television personality to a convicted child sex offender serving multiple life sentences. His sentence reflects the severity of his crimes and the impact they had on his victims and their families.

The Louisiana State Penitentiary

The history of the prison dates back to the 1830s when the land was known as the Angola Plantations, a slave plantation owned by slave trader Isaac Franklin. After the Civil War, the land was purchased by Samuel Lawrence James, a former Confederate major, who tried to produce cotton using the forced labour of African Americans. In the early 1900s, the state began transferring prison facilities to Angola, and it officially opened as a state prison in 1901.

Over the years, Angola has been the site of numerous escapes, riots, and violent incidents. In 1928, a group of prisoners took hostage two prison guards and escaped, resulting in a gunfight that left five prisoners dead. In the 1930s, the prison was described as "probably as close to slavery as any person could come" by authors Charles Wolfe and Kip Lornell. They also noted that the staff ran the prison like a "private fiefdom".

In recent years, Angola has undergone reforms and improvements. In 1995, Burl Cain was appointed warden and worked to lower the prison violence rate and improve conditions. However, in 2019, seven staff members were arrested for rape, smuggling items to inmates, and maintaining personal relationships with prisoners.

The prison offers various programs and services to inmates, including educational programs, vocational training, and mental health interventions. It is also known for its inmate-run newsmagazine, "The Angolite", and the Angola Prison Rodeo, which attracts thousands of visitors twice a year.

Angola has been the subject of several books, documentaries, and songs. It has also been featured in films and television series, such as "Dead Man Walking" and "True Detective".

Rape and sexual assault charges

Will Hayden, a former reality TV star, was convicted of rape and sexual assault charges in April and July 2017. He received three life sentences and is currently serving his sentence at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola Prison.

The charges against Hayden involved the rape and sexual assault of two girls over the course of two decades. The victims were 11 and 12 years old at the time of the crimes, and they were 15 and 37 years old at the time of Hayden's conviction.

Hayden was found guilty of two counts of aggravated rape and one count of forcible rape. The aggravated rape charges carry a mandatory sentence of life in prison. He was also accused of aggravated incest of his oldest daughter, who was one of the victims in the case.

During the trial, the victims provided emotional testimony about the abuse they suffered at the hands of Hayden. One of the victims became ill multiple times while testifying, and the other victim recounted her experience on the "Dr. Phil" show, where she described her father's actions as "ruining her life".

The prosecution in the case described Hayden as a master manipulator who lied to the jury. The defence, on the other hand, claimed that the allegations were false and made in retaliation by a vengeful ex-girlfriend. However, the jury unanimously convicted Hayden, and he was sentenced to life in prison, ensuring he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Sons of Guns

Will Hayden, the former star of the Discovery Channel reality TV show 'Sons of Guns', is currently serving three life sentences at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola Prison.

Hayden founded Red Jacket Firearms, a custom gun shop in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which was featured on the show. 'Sons of Guns' centred around Hayden and his family, and first aired in 2011. The show was cancelled in 2014 following Hayden's arrest on various sexual assault charges.

On 7 April 2017, Hayden was convicted of two counts of aggravated rape and one count of forcible rape. On 11 May 2017, he was sentenced to two life sentences, to run concurrently, plus 40 years, to run consecutively. Hayden is not eligible for parole and will remain in prison for the rest of his life.

On 12 July 2017, Hayden was sentenced to a third life sentence for the rape of his oldest daughter, as well as an additional 10 years for a conviction of aggravated incest. These sentences will also run concurrently with his previous sentences.

Hayden's background

Will Hayden was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1965. He is of Choctaw descent. At the age of three or four, he survived a large house fire, which he later described as "waking up to fire 'eating me up'". When he was five, his father punched him so hard that he went through a wall. Hayden later wrote that this incident taught him to "pick his battles carefully".

Hayden's interest in firearms began at an early age. By the time he was 12, he had started building his own firearms. At 16, he dropped out of high school and joined the Marines, where he served for six years and achieved the rank of Sergeant.

After his time in the Marines, Hayden started his own construction and refrigeration business, while also working on guns on the side. In 1999, he sold his main business and officially opened Red Jacket Firearms. The name of the company is a translation of his mother's name, Osguma, which means "red jacket" in Choctaw. The company's first commercial order was for 20 rifles from a large distributor called Manotick Firearms.

Hayden's gun shop was the focus of the Discovery Channel reality show 'Sons of Guns', which ran from 2011 to 2014. The show was cancelled after Hayden was arrested on various sexual charges. He was convicted of two counts of aggravated rape and one count of forcible rape, and sentenced to two life sentences plus 40 years in prison. He was later given a third life sentence for a conviction of aggravated incest. Hayden will carry out his sentences at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola.

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