Reality Star Will Spend The Rest Of His Life In Prison After Kids Come Forward

<div><p>Reality TV has made it easier than ever to become a star, and sometimes that's bad news. Not everyone is cut out for fame and fortune, and too many young reality TV staples have taken their own life, or died of substance abuse. </p><p>A new kind of tragedy has fans of reality TV reeling, as a former star of a Discovery Channel hit was sentenced to two life sentences plus an additional 40 years.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Will-Hayden---nola.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Will-Hayden---nola_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="Hayden" alt="Hayden" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Nola</cite></figcaption></figure></div><h2>The Sentence</h2><p>The tough sentence came down in a Louisiana Court House, while Will Hayden, star of the hit show Sons of Guns looked on.</p><p>One of his victims left the court house all smiles stopping only to say "thank god" when reporters asked for comment.</p><p>Hayden was arrested in 2014 amid allegations from a 15-year-old girl that he raped her and threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone. Another woman, 37, came forward and said she had also been raped decades earlier by Hayden when she was 13. He was found guilty on two counts of aggravated rape and one count of forcible rape.</p><p>He is not eligible for parole, probation or reduction in sentence.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/sons-of-guns---screener.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/sons-of-guns---screener_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/sons-of-guns---screener_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/sons-of-guns---screener_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w" sizes="89vw" title="Sons of Guns" alt="Sons of Guns" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Screener</cite></figcaption></figure></div><h2>Sons of Guns</h2><p>Sons of Guns ran for 3 years on Discovery Channel, following the exploits of Hayden and his firearm company Red Jacket Firearms.</p><p>The show centered around Hayden's custom gun shop building modifications for guns and rifles and then demonstrating the use of the new weapons.</p><p>Hayden ran his company with his daughter Stephanie Ford and her husband Kris Ford. </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>The show was abruptly canceled after Hayden's arrest. Executives at Discovery quickly distanced themselves from the man who also starred in several episodes of other reality shows like American Guns or American Chopper.</p><h2>The Crime</h2><p>Click to the next page to hear about Hayden's heinous crime</p><p>During the trial the 15-year-old victim gave an emotional testimony recounting Hayden's crimes. Over the course of a year and a half,beginning when she was just 11, he raped her, beat her and threatened her into silence.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/perp-walk.JPG" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/perp-walk_GH_content_550px.JPG 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/perp-walk_GH_content_650px.JPG 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/perp-walk_GH_content_750px.JPG 750w" sizes="89vw" title="Hayden" alt="Hayden" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>WFAB</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>The other victim gave a similar account, but it was years before Hayden would become famous. She told the court that her family was forced to move in with Hayden after they were forced out by a house fire in the early 90s, she was just 12 years-old. Hayden would have been in his late 30s.</p><p>Initially his co-star and daughter Stephanie stood by her father, but she later changed her story and admitted she too had been inappropriately touched by her father.</p><h2>Charges Still Pending</h2><p>Hayden has now been charged with aggravated incest in connection with Stephanie's allegations. While she managed to escape her father she said he pinched and tried to undress her, which would still amount to criminal activity.</p><p>Hayden has said he plans to appeal both the verdict and the sentencing, however aggravated rape carries a mandatory life sentence, so unless his conviction is overturned he will still die in prison.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/arrested---sumairy.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/arrested---sumairy_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="Arrested" alt="Arrested" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Sumairy</cite></figcaption></figure></div><h2>Further Troubles</h2><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>Both Stephanie and Kris Ford, have also been arrested in relation to other abuse claims. Their 15-year-old boy was found to have been beaten with a leather belt. He says his stepfather, Kris, beat him while his mother watched. They have been charged but remain free on bail.</p></div>