A Clinton, Connecticut teenager who posted online videos of flying drones shooting a gun and a flamethrower in his backyard has been arrested, accused of enticing a minor and attempted sex assault.
Austin Haughwout, 19, of Clinton, turned himself in to police at 5:45 a.m. Thursday on an outstanding warrant and has been charged with enticing a minor, fourth-degree attempted sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.
Police said the warrant was issued after a lengthy investigation by police in Clinton, as well as other law enforcement agencies.
Haughwout made headlines when he built a drone with a semi-automatic gun attached and posted a video of it on YouTube with the title "flying gun." The video showed a gun affixed to a drone discharging several times while hovering several feet off the ground in a wooded area.
The teen's father said his son, an engineering student, custom-built the drone device with a gun that Haughwout owns.
The FAA immediately launched an investigation, but at the time the device didn't appear to break any laws. However, the video sparked a national debate about the weaponziation of drones.
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In July, a federal judge ordered Haughwout and his father to testify under oath at depositions and hand over documents about the drones shown online.
Haughwout is due in court for arraignment today.
Haughwout also has several other pending cases and is due in court on Oct. 22.
On June 29, 2016, he was arrested on child pornography and attempted sexual assault charges.
In July 2015, he was charged with attacking police officers in the lobby of the Clinton Police Department.
