An American woman who arrived in Australia to attend clown school with a gold-plated pistol in her luggage has been jailed for a year.
Liliana Goodson, a 30-year-old American woman, pleaded guilty to charges of illegally importing a firearm and ammunition, in contravention of Australia’s strict gun laws.
She was sentenced on Monday to 12 months in jail by Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court, and will serve at least four months in full-time custody.
The court previously heard that Goodson had arrived in the country from Florida to attend a clown school in April 2023, but was stopped at the border after the authorities noticed a 24-carat gold-plated weapon in her luggage.
The 24-carat gold-plated gun – Australian Border Force
She claimed that she had forgotten it was in her bag, after telling customs officers that she did not have any prohibited items with her.
But police later discovered she had searched online for an answer to the question: “Can I have a gun in my suitcase?” and set a calendar reminder to herself to “put gun in suitcase”.
Goodson later said she had brought the gun into the country as protection, even though she was “scared” to shoot it and would more likely “pistol whip” anyone who attacked her.
The court was also told that the Florida woman planned to store the weapon under the passenger’s seat of her car.
Goodson, who uses they/them pronouns, had travelled to Australia from Florida but told officers that her permit for the Colt 45-style pistol was “back in Alabama”.
“When I got over here the gun was not even in the back of my mind at all,” she said at the time.
Cat’s spine and rabbit urine
She had, however, declared that she was carrying a cat’s spine, squirrel feet and rabbit urine, the Daily Mail reported. It is unclear why she travelled with those items.
Prosecutors in a previous hearing argued that the weapon would “terrify members of the community” and could pose a threat to public safety.
The court also heard that she had used several banned substances in recent years, including psychedelic drugs, synthetic cannabis and crystal meth amphetamines.
She was instructed to remove her extensive piercings after the hearing and was led away by court staff.
Monday’s sentence will likely delay her ambitions to become a professional clown. Susan Horan, a magistrate, said the custodial sentence would serve as a deterrent to others entering the country.
“Australia has a strong stance against firearms,” she said.
