Capitol Weapons Suspect Pleads Guilty to Firearms and Child Exploitation Charges

WASHINGTON — The man accused of running toward the U.S. Capitol with a loaded shotgun earlier this year pleaded guilty Monday to two federal felony charges, including a child sexual abuse material offense uncovered during the investigation into the Capitol incident.

Carter Camacho, 18, admitted in federal court to unlawfully carrying a firearm on Capitol grounds and receiving child sexual abuse material. According to prosecutors, investigators discovered more than 600 illicit images on electronic devices seized during the investigation, including material involving children younger than 12.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, federal prosecutors plan to recommend a sentence near the lower end of the federal sentencing guidelines—approximately eight years in prison. The judge, however, is not required to follow that recommendation and may also consider mitigating factors, including Camacho's lack of a prior criminal record and the fact that he was a college student before his arrest.

Sentencing has been scheduled for Dec. 8.

Camacho's mother attended Monday's hearing after traveling from the family's home outside the Washington area. She told the court that her son was experiencing effects related to autism on the day of the incident. That assertion has not been independently verified in court.

Authorities arrested Camacho on Feb. 17 after he drove from Georgia to Washington, D.C., parked a white Mercedes SUV near the Capitol and ran toward the building carrying a loaded Mossberg Model 88 12-gauge shotgun with the safety disengaged. Officers with the U.S. Capitol Police ordered him to the ground, and he surrendered without further incident. No injuries were reported.

Investigators later recovered a knife along the route Camacho had taken, while a Kevlar helmet and a gas mask were found inside his vehicle.

According to court records, Camacho told officers he had traveled to the Capitol because he was "just there to talk to a Member of Congress."

A federal grand jury initially indicted Camacho on March 3 on a single charge of carrying a firearm on Capitol grounds, to which he originally pleaded not guilty.

On July 24, prosecutors filed a superseding information adding the child sexual abuse material charge. They are also seeking the forfeiture of the shotgun, 25 rounds of ammunition, a gaming computer and any electronic devices or other property connected to the child exploitation offense.

The filing of the superseding information, rather than seeking a new grand jury indictment, indicated that prosecutors and the defense had reached a negotiated plea agreement, which Camacho formally accepted in court on Monday.

Camacho remains in federal custody while awaiting sentencing.