Sandford admitted on Tuesday to attempting to steal a gun while at a rally in Las Vegas for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. A judge still has to accept the agreement, which would involve Sandford serving jail time.
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“I was very relieved that he signed it”, she said.
When U.S. District Judge James Mahan asked Sandford on Tuesday if he had recently taken any medications, the defendant said he was taking mental health drugs, including a medication used to treat bipolar disorders.
Mrs Sandford added: “Obviously it was extremely hard to turn around and leave him and get on the plane – not knowing when we will see him again”. Sentencing is scheduled for December 13.
A US magistrate judge who approved the mother-son meeting called the case unique because of Sandford’s age, the nature of the charges, and the “context” of the offense.
The plea deal avoids trial, which had been set to start October 3. He won’t be able to appeal.
Sandford could have faced up to 20 years in a United States prison if he had been convicted at trial of both charges – but his plea now means he could be deported and his sentence reduced. According to a prosecutor, one charge of being an illegal alien knowingly in possession of a firearm will be dropped.
Michael Steven Sandford, who had by then over-stayed his tourist visa by about 10 months, was immediately arrested and removed from the rally.
It was reached after Sandford’s mother and a lawyer from London arrived in the US and met with him in custody last week.
Brenda Weksler, one of Sandford’s federal public defenders, declined to comment.
Ms Sandford has argued her son should serve any sentence in a psychiatric hospital in the UK.
Ms Sandford said that her son had a number of mental health conditions – including autism, severe OCD, anxiety, depression and previously anorexia – and had previously tried to take his own life twice.
He added: ‘Michael was not in control at the time of the events and needs help.
Court documents say Sandford acknowledged asking the police officer at the event if he could get Trump’s autograph then grabbing with both hands for the officer’s 9mm handgun.
Sandford told a federal agent that he arrived in Las Vegas two days before the campaign rally, rented a 9mm pistol and fired 20 shots at a paper target at a Las Vegas gun range the day before Trump’s appearance, according to court documents.
Lynne Sandford, pictured, told ITV presenters: “We know now that at the time he (Michael Sandford) was suffering from a delusional psychotic episode and we are hoping the authorities will show some leniency under the circumstances”.
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It wasn’t clear if Trump recognized a threat before officers escorted Sandford out of the 1,500-seat theater at the Treasure Island hotel-casino.
