Brad Simpson faces federal charge for illegal possession of short-barreled shotgun, records show

SAN ANTONIO – Brad Simpson faces a federal felony charge for illegal possession of a firearm, according to court records obtained by KSAT Investigates Tuesday evening.

Investigators discovered a short-barreled rifle that was not registered to Simpson in his home, the affidavit states.

According to an affidavit obtained by KSAT, investigators searched Simpson’s Olmos Park home on Oct. 9 after executing a search warrant related to the disappearance of his wife Suzanne Clark Simpson.

On October 10, a family member told law enforcement that Simpson had several firearms that he wanted to turn in.

The family member seized several firearms from a locked room in Simpson’s home and turned them over to the Olmos Park Police Department, records show.

According to the affidavit, several silencers were inside that room. These were recorded in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Registry (NFRTR).

However, the short-barreled rifle (SBR) that was handed over to the police was not registered with the NFRTR, according to the affidavit.

Owning an SBR that is not federally registered is illegal, according to court records.

Simpson faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the affidavit.

The firearm is a Grand Power Stribog SB9 A3 rifle, caliber 9×19 mm, manufactured in Slovakia, the affidavit states.

This charge is why Brad Simpson has a federal hold upon his release from the Bexar County Jail.

That inmate is the reason Simpson’s bail reduction hearing Tuesday morning was canceled, KSAT confirmed Monday.

Simpson, 53, is being held in the Bexar County Jail on bail totaling $2 million after being arrested Wednesday in Kendall County on domestic violence and unlawful restraint charges.

He is being questioned about the disappearance of his wife, Suzanne Clark Simpson, a mother of four and real estate agent, who was last seen on Sunday October 6.

Simpson was scheduled to appear for a bond hearing Tuesday morning in the jail’s auxiliary court, records show. A judge could have reduced his bail during the hearing.

Even if Simpson were to post bail, he could be transferred to the custody of the U.S. Marshals due to his detention.

A federal detention, or detention, is a request by a federal agency to keep an inmate in custody or to notify the agency before release.

A spokesperson for the US Marshals told KSAT on Sunday that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will need to complete its investigation before marshals intervene in Simpson’s custody.

The ATF confirmed to KSAT that there was a hold on Brad Simpson and that they were assisting other agencies.

Federal court records show no pending federal charges against Simpson. The ATF investigates federal crimes, including the illegal use or theft of firearms.

He was transferred to the Bexar County Jail on Thursday.

What we know

Olmos Park Police Chief Fidel Villegas provided additional details about the disappearance of Suzanne Clark Simpson during a news conference Thursday afternoon.

During the press conference, Villegas shared a photo of a woman who DPS and Olmos Park believe is Suzanne Clark Simpson.

The photo was taken outside The Argyle, a private dinner club in Alamo Heights, Villegas said.

“We’re trying every avenue,” Villegas said. “But in case someone saw her – and she would be in distress. That night we believe she was in distress. She might be somewhere, but we don’t know. It’s very suspicious though that she obviously doesn’t go to work and doesn’t watch her kids. So this is an obvious problem.

“But, at the same time, we don’t want to miss an opportunity to say, ‘Hey, this is what she looks like.’ Maybe someone knows where she is or she’s hiding or something. That’s why we’re showing you the clothes,” Villegas said.

According to Villegas, Brad Simpson continues to be uncooperative with investigators.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, a neighbor told police that between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Sunday, he heard an argument outside his bedroom window, which was getting louder and “sounded closer to his window “. When the neighbor looked out the window, he saw the Simpsons in a physical altercation, the affidavit states. He said Suzanne Clark Simpson was trying to get away from Brad Simpson as he tried to knock her down. It appears Brad Simpson was “clearly trying to stop Ms. Simpson from running away,” the neighbor told authorities, according to the affidavit.

The neighbor told authorities he last saw the couple walking westbound. The neighbor went outside to investigate and a short time later heard two to three screams coming from a brushy area east of his house, the affidavit states.

About an hour later, the neighbor saw Brad Simpson start his black GMC pickup truck and leave his house. The neighbor told authorities he saw Brad Simpson returning one to two hours later.

At one point, Brad Simpson went to his ranch in Bandera County and “appeared to become separated from his family,” the affidavit states.

Villegas said authorities were seeking tips about Brad Simpson’s black 2019 GMC Sierra and whether it was seen in a suspicious location Sunday evening.

Olmos Park Police Ask for Public Help

If you have information on Simpson’s whereabouts, contact Olmos police at one of three numbers:

• 210-209-2701: Detective Hector Ruiz

• 210-219-2702: Detective Melissa Campbell

• 210-822-2000: Distribution of Olmos Park

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, there has been a long resource list on KSAT Domestic violence page which includes a description of what abuse is and how it gradually develops.

If you are in crisis, you can:

• call or text 911

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