Judge orders mental health evaluation for man found with gun at Trump golf course in LA
Judge ruled Jeanine John Taele, discovered with firearm days before Trump visit, was unfit to face felony charge A judge in California has suspended criminal proceedings against a man found with a loaded gun near Donald Trump ’s golf course in Los Angeles, and instead ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation. Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey, California , was arrested for weapons violations days before the president spoke at a 5 August Republican fundraiser at the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. A justice department press release dated 4 August said he was found at the club with ammunition on his person and a loaded firearm in his pickup truck. A felony charge of possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle carries a statutory maximum prison sentence of 10 years. On Wednesday, however, Judge John Lonergan of the Los Angeles county superior court ruled Taele was unfit to face the charge and ordered an evaluation by a separate mental health court to determine if criminal proceedings could resume.
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According to the New York Times , Taele appeared in court wearing a suicide prevention gown while his attorney, Anthony Bayne, argued that his client was unable to understand or participate in the hearing.