L.A. man arrested on Trump golf course faces gun charges

A man arrested over the weekend at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles was expected to appear in court on Wednesday to face federal firearm charges. President Donald Trump visited the club on Tuesday after the arrest of Jeanine John Taele, 38. The Justice Department charged Taele with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle. He is presumed legally innocent until proven guilty in court.

Federal agents spotted the suspect late last week as they performed a security check ahead of the president’s visit. Taele was walking around the property, wearing an earpiece and taking photos and videos of the security measures there, according to the Justice Department. Taele returned Sunday, telling federal agents that he was a State Department employee helping with security and that he had a loaded weapon in his nearby truck.

Agents and local deputies detained Taele, who was already wanted in connection with a robbery. They found ammunition in his pockets. A pistol, binoculars, and an official-looking badge were in his truck. Officials also searched his home in Los Angeles County and found body armor, an earpiece, and an illegally modified rifle, according to the Justice Department. Investigators said they were concerned by statements they read in notebooks found at Taele’s house, but they were still probing his possible motive and plans.

What penalties would Taele face if convicted? The federal gun charge is a felony with a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. If convicted of the same felony at the state level, Taele could face an additional sentence of up to three years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report on Trump’s recent statements on the Iran war.