Man Arrested Near Donald Trump Coachella Rally Pleads Not Guilty to Firearm Charges

A man arrested outside of Donald Trump’s rally in Coachella last October has pleaded not guilty to two charges involving the possession of firearms in a public place. The defendant, Miller, did not attend his hearing at the Larson Justice Center this morning, but his attorney, Angela Friedrichs, appeared on his behalf to enter the not guilty pleas.

Miller was arrested on October 12th, 2024, after allegedly being found in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine at a security checkpoint near the rally. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco confirmed in a press conference the following day that deputies also discovered multiple fake IDs, including passports and driver’s licenses under different names. In addition, Miller was found driving an unregistered vehicle with fake license plates.

In response to the charges, Miller’s attorney has stated that the defendant denies any intent to harm the former president. Miller, in a statement, also claimed that if there was even a small risk that the allegations were true, he would have been in jail much longer. He insists that the firearms were only for personal protection, not for any malicious purpose.

The case has taken a further twist, as Miller has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Bianco and the deputies involved in his arrest. Miller alleges defamation of character, claiming that he was unfairly portrayed in the media and by law enforcement. He controversially stated that he believed deputies had prevented a potential "third assassination attempt," though he did not elaborate further on this assertion.

Despite the seriousness of the charges, Miller’s attorney maintains that he was not a threat to the former president. "If the president was actually at risk, even if it was 1% of what they said is true, even 1%, I would still be in jail right now," Miller's representative said.

Miller’s next court date is scheduled for March 11th, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., where further details in the case are expected to unfold.