Brad Simpson's illegal “machine gun” was hidden in the wall of the Dominion house by a friend, police say

SAN ANTONIO — The husband of missing Olmos Park woman Suzanne Clark Simpson faces two additional charges, according to jail records.

Records show 53-year-old Brad Simpson was charged Tuesday with tampering/falsifying physical evidence with intent to impair and prohibited weapons.

They are related to the arrest Tuesday of Simpson's business partner on similar charges, which was first reported by KSAT.

According to an affidavit, the Texas Rangers received consent from Brad Simpson's business partner and friend of more than 25 years, James Vallee Cotter, to review his communications with Simpson on his cell phone.

On Oct. 8, the affidavit said Brad Simpson texted Cotter saying, “If you're in Bandera, can you take a guy and meet me at your house?” I don't have much time .” Simpson messaged Cotter again, adding, “OK, make sure you leave all that crap in the pump house, especially that gun,” the affidavit states.

The affidavit also includes a text from Simpson saying, “Sorry for the urgency but you are all I have, especially now…social media is destroying me.”

Nearly two weeks later, a person who had previously provided accurate information about the investigation contacted Olmos Park police. The affidavit says the person told authorities that Brad Simpson asked Cotter to go to his Olmos Park home to get a “rifle.”

According to the affidavit, the person described the rifle as a fully automatic AK-47. Additionally, the subject told Olmos Park police that the gun was hidden behind a wall in Cotter's bedroom.

When Olmos Park police obtained a search warrant for Cotter's apartment on Monday, authorities found a Chinese-made AK-47 behind a television mounted in his bedroom, the affidavit said. A video of a walk-in safe room full of weapons in Brad Simpson's home appeared to show the same weapon.

Through further investigation, authorities confirmed the weapon was an AK-47 that could switch between full and semi-automatic, the affidavit said.

Owning automatic weapons classified by the government as “machine guns” is illegal unless they are registered with the ATF.

According to the affidavit, Brad Simpson and Cotter knowingly possessed an unregistered machine gun, also a third-degree felony.

According to court documents obtained by KSAT on Oct. 15, Brad Simpson is also charged with a federal felony for unlawful possession of another firearm.

The affidavit states that investigators discovered a short-barreled rifle in his home that was not registered to Brad Simpson.

According to an affidavit obtained by KSAT, investigators searched the couple's Olmos Park home on Oct. 9 after executing a search warrant in connection with the disappearance of Suzanne Clark Simpson.

Brad Simpson is being held in the Bexar County Jail on bonds totaling $3 million after he was arrested in Kendall County on multiple charges, including family violence and unlawful oppression.

Brad Simpson is being questioned about the disappearance of his wife, who was last seen on October 6th.

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, he was originally scheduled to have a bond hearing on Oct. 15 in the Bexar County Jail Subcourt, but it was canceled because he was facing a federal prison sentence.

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