

A California lawmaker who was detained and cited for bringing a loaded gun to an airport earlier this year is seeking a plea deal with prosecutors.

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, a self-described "tea party" Republican from San Bernardino, was charged last month with two misdemeanors after an incident at Ontario International Airport in which security screeners discovered a loaded .45-caliber Colt Mark IV pistol and an ammunition magazine with an additional five rounds in his carry-on luggage.

The lawmaker has characterized the incident as an "honest mistake," saying he had forgotten to remove the gun from his briefcase after placing it there while working in his home garage, and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His lawyer, Rod Pacheco, told the Sacramento Bee on Thursday that he was working to reach a plea deal with San Bernardino County prosecutors.

"The justice system needs to mete out justice in a fair manner, taking into consideration various circumstances," Pacheco told the newspaper.