Criminal proceedings were suspended Wednesday pending a mental competency hearing for a man who was allegedly carrying ammunition in his pocket and a loaded gun in his vehicle at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes days ahead of President Donald Trump’s recent visit to the resort.
Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey, was charged in Los Angeles Superior Court earlier this month with one felony count each of manufacturing, importing, keeping for sale, giving or receiving a large-capacity magazine; and possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun; along with a felony count of second-degree robbery that allegedly occurred in November 2025. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges in early August. But in a Torrance courtroom Wednesday, a doubt was declared about Taele’s mental competency. He was scheduled to appear in a Hollywood courtroom Sept. 9 for a competency hearing to determine if he is fit to stand trial.
Taele remains jailed without bail. He is also facing a federal charge of possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle, a felony that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. That case is still pending.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes around 3:30 p.m. Aug. 2 by federal agents who spotted a “suspicious individual” on the property.
“The individual was observed walking throughout the golf course grounds taking photographs and videos and appearing to monitor security- planning activities,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement.
During his arrest, Taele was found to be carrying hollow-point ammunition in his pocket and a loaded weapon in his vehicle. A subsequent search of his home found additional weapons, body armor, high-capacity ammunition magazines and “multiple notebooks containing concerning statements,” sheriff’s officials said.
His arrest came two days before Trump visited the resort to speak at a Republican National Committee fundraiser.
According to an affidavit filed with the federal complaint against Taele, federal agents on July 31 were conducting a security assessment at the golf club in advance of Trump’s visit. During that assessment, federal agents saw a suspicious individual later identified as Taele at the club. Taele was seen walking throughout the golf course at Trump Golf Club, was wearing an earpiece, and took photographs and filmed videos of federal agents’ security-planning activities. Taele later left the area and drove away.
He returned to the club Aug. 2, according to the affidavit. Golf course staff notified federal agents, who were continuing their security assessment. Taele approached the federal agents and said he was employed by the State Department and was at the location for a security detail, according to the affidavit. Taele admitted to having a loaded firearm in his car, which was parked in the Trump Golf Club parking lot.
Federal agents contacted the sheriff’s department and deputies arrested Taele. Deputies also learned that Taele was wanted in connection with a robbery case out of El Segundo.
According to military records, Taele is a decorated former Marine, reaching the rank of corporal while serving at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. He served in the Marines from March 2008 through March 2016 and served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also received various recognitions, including two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, an Iraq Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal, along with two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons and the NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal.
An Instagram account believed to be Taele’s described him as a Marine Corps veteran, as well as a “survivor of child trafficking and child abuse.”