Judge suspends charges against ex-Marine arrested with gun at Trump golf course

Los Angeles County Judge John Lonergan Jr. ordered former U.S. Marine Jeanine John Taele, 38, to appear before a mental-health court in Hollywood after a pre-trial evaluation indicated he was not mentally fit to stand trial. The decision follows Taele's arrest earlier this month at Trump National Golf Course Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes, where police found a loaded 9 mm pistol, binoculars and a badge reading “security protection agent” in his pickup truck.

Investigators also recovered more than 200 pages of writings that listed schedules for First Lady Melania Trump, members of the president’s Secret Service and other individuals, though the judge did not specify any political motive. Taele faced multiple felony counts, including possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun and possession of a large-capacity magazine, as well as a misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle.

“This case itself is alarming in this day and age with the violence that is creeping into our everyday lives, especially with our partisanship in the political environment,” Lonergan said.

The judge also noted Taele’s prior arrest in November 2025 at an AT&T store, where he was charged with second-degree robbery after accusing an employee of spying on him with Meta glasses and stealing the devices.

Taele appeared in a Torrance courtroom wearing a safety vest and was observed by family members and friends. Lonergan declined to set bail, and Taele will remain in custody until a September 9 hearing at the Hollywood Mental Health Court.

“He’s a veteran, he served our country, and I don’t know enough right now, but he has a family that loves him, that has huge support for him,” public defender A.J. Bayne said, adding that “people assume too much” about Taele’s motives.

A Marine Corps spokesperson confirmed Taele served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2008 and 2016 and received several commendations, including two Good Conduct Medals and a Navy Unit Commendation.