A California judge has suspended criminal proceedings against Jeanine John Taele, 38, who was found with a loaded firearm near Donald Trump’s golf course in Los Angeles. Instead, Taele has been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.

Taele, from Downey, California, was arrested for weapons violations days before President Trump spoke at a Republican fundraiser on August 5, 2026, at the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. A Justice Department press release dated August 4 stated that Taele was found at the club with ammunition on his person and a loaded firearm in his pickup truck.

The felony charge against Taele involves possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, which carries a statutory maximum prison sentence of 10 years. However, on August 27, Judge John Lonergan of the Los Angeles County Superior Court ruled that Taele was unfit to face the charge and ordered an evaluation by a separate mental health court to determine if criminal proceedings could resume.

According to the New York Times, Taele appeared in court wearing a suicide prevention gown. His attorney, Anthony Bayne, argued that Taele was unable to understand or participate in the hearing.

Prosecutors said Taele was first spotted at the golf club on July 31, wearing an earpiece and taking photographs and videos as he walked the course. Deputies also discovered Taele had an active warrant for a robbery in El Segundo and found a 16-round magazine of hollow-point ammunition in his pants during a search.

Taele served in the Marines from 2008 to 2016 and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, according to military records cited by the Times. Bill Essayli, first assistant US attorney for the Central District of California, said the investigation was at an early stage.

Sources