The Pennsylvania doctor charged with local and federal crimes for taking guns and ammunition to the Trump International Hotel in downtown Washington last year took a plea deal Tuesday.
Bryan Moles pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court of D.C. to the lesser charge of carrying a pistol without a license in exchange for the federal firearms charge to be dismissed and on the condition that he surrender all his firearms. The federal charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $12,500.
Moles now faces six to 24 months in prison. A judge set sentencing for Sept. 7.
Moles was initially arrested May 31, 2017, after police discovered a semi-automatic pistol and AR-15-style rifle in his car, which was parked at the Trump International Hotel, according to prosecutors. He was released from custody June 2 under pretrial release conditions.
Moles violated these conditions and was rearrested June 15 when Facebook posts were discovered which showed him at a gas station in D.C. smoking pot when he was ordered to stay out of D.C. and off drugs. He has been held in custody since his last arrest.
Moles’ other Facebook posts that were filed in court included “disturbing images” of newspaper headlines about last year's congressional baseball practice shooting next to a non-descript black bag with unknown contents.
According to one court filing, he also posted a note to family and friends to watch Fox News for exciting updates, “apparently referring to the possibility that the defendant will be incarcerated.” Another posted photograph references the Pearl Jam song “Jeremy.” In the music video for that song, a boy shoots himself at school.
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Moles was temporarily released last year on the condition that he seek a mental health evaluation while staying with a friend in Georgia, but that friend later declined that offer. A court filing said the friend felt he couldn’t be responsible for Moles “in light of the defendant’s mental state and drug use.
”The filing also said family and friends believed he needed to be arrested to get the mental health services he needed through court.
