Social media users were not too surprised to learn one of the contributors behind the success of the conservative White Christian nationalist oriented film Sound of Freedom was recently arrested on charges related to child trafficking—the very thing the movie is about.
Newsweekreports Fabian Marta, a 51-year-old resident of Missouri, was apprehended earlier this week on charges of child kidnapping.
Marta, one of the numerous investors who participated in crowdfunding the film's theatrical distribution, played a pivotal role in driving the movie's popularity.
Notably, his name is credited in the film as one of the "investors [who] helped bring Sound of Freedom to theaters." Marta openly showcased his support for the film on social media, even boasting about his contributions.
A now-deleted post quotes Marta as saying:
"The Sound of Freedom movie tackles a very tough subject, and took extraordinary effort to bring it to movie theaters.
"I'm proud to have been a small part of it."
"If you see the movie look for 'Fabian Marta and Family' at the very end of the credits."
Marta, who contributed an undisclosed sum to ensure the film's theatrical run following pandemic-related delays, is currently confronted with Class A felony charges, which could potentially lead to a life sentence in prison.
Marta's bail was set at $15,000 but Newsweek noted he was "released on personal recognizance following an initial appearance on July 24" and the "nature of the incident the criminal case relates to is not clear."
Many were not shocked to learn another conservative Christian was busted for doing what they accused others of doing.
Sound of Freedom stars QAnon adherent Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard, the founder of an anti-child sex-trafficking organization known as Operation Underground Railroad.
The organization distanced itself from Marta immediately.
The film has achieved remarkable success at the box office, surpassing the earnings of recent releases like the latest Indiana Jones installment and Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, the seventh installment in the Mission Impossible film series.
However, critics and experts have cautioned against its portrayal of a "white savior" perspective on the issue, expressing concerns about its potential harm.