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Politician Charged With 2 Misdemeanors for Taking a Loaded Gun Into Local Airport
Donnelly (via 59th Assembly District website)
Assemblyman Tim Donnelly had a big "oopsies" moment in January when he brought a loaded gun in his briefcase into Ontario International Airport and attempted to get through security. Now Donnelly has been charged with two misdemeanor counts for the incident the Twin Peaks Republican calls "innocent mistake for which [he has] taken responsibility," reports the Sacramento Bee.
The forgetful Assemblyman was charged today with illegal possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a prohibited item in a sterile area. He had placed the loaded Colt Mark IV .45 in his briefcase, which was dutifully noticed by security screeners as he prepped to board a flight to Sacramento.
It is not known if Donnelly will be fined for the violation. He does, however, remain eligible to serve in the Assembly, since this is not a felony crime.
For Donnelly, however, this faux pas is something he's willing to cop to, but wants to put behind him: "I look forward to moving beyond this incident by continuing to focus on getting Californians back to work and getting our economy back on track," he said in a written statement.
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