A California man accused of arriving at Trump National Golf Club with a loaded pistol, ammunition and body armor days before President Donald Trump's visit pleaded not guilty Tuesday to multiple criminal charges.
Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey, was arrested Sunday at the club in Rancho Palos Verdes after plainclothes federal agents spotted him walking the grounds while taking photographs and videos and appearing to monitor security planning activities, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies from the Lomita Sheriff's Station responded around 3:30 p.m. and contacted Taele. During a pat-down, they allegedly recovered a 16-round magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition from his pants pocket. A subsequent search of his vehicle, parked in the golf course parking lot, turned up a loaded pistol with a round in the chamber, along with another loaded magazine containing hollow-point ammunition.
Prosecutors charged Taele with receiving a large-capacity magazine, carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle and possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun. He also faces a second-degree robbery charge related to an alleged incident on Nov. 4, 2025, that the El Segundo Police Department was already investigating before Sunday's arrest.
The discovery at the golf course prompted detectives from the Sheriff's Department's Major Crimes Bureau, assigned to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, to obtain a search warrant for Taele's home in Downey. Investigators said they recovered an illegally modified AR-platform rifle, a 1911.45-caliber pistol, an AR-platform upper receiver, body armor, high-capacity magazines, bulk pistol and rifle ammunition, two radio signal devices and multiple notebooks containing what authorities described as «concerning statements.»
The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force and the U.S. Secret Service. Authorities said they have identified no credible threat to the surrounding community but stressed that the investigation remains active. The FBI's Los Angeles Field Office confirmed that its task force is continuing to investigate the case alongside the Secret Service and the Sheriff's Department, but declined to comment further because the matter is ongoing.
A Los Angeles County judge set Taele's bail at $250,000, ordered him not to possess any weapons, barred him from Trump National Golf Club and prohibited him from leaving California while the case is pending. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 26 for a preliminary hearing setting and bail review.
Trump arrived in Los Angeles late Tuesday for a Republican National Committee fundraiser. A spokesperson for The Trump Organization thanked the agencies involved in the response, saying: «We are incredibly grateful to the local law enforcement, the United States Secret Service, the FBI, and all supporting agencies for their swift response and dedication to keeping everyone safe.» Officials said additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.
