A North Carolina man who fired an AR-15 in a Washington, D.C. pizzeria in December in an attempt to rescue children who he believed were being held captive in the eatery was sentenced to four years in prison Thursday.

Edgar Maddison Welch drove to the Comet Ping Pong Restaurant from North Carolina intending to investigate a baseless internet conspiracy theory known as “pizza gate.” Promoters of the conspiracy alleged Democratic politicians were operating a pedophilia ring out of the pizzeria.

Welch plead guilty to two weapons charges in March, and he was sentenced in federal court in Washington, D.C. Thursday. His attorney asked that he be sentenced to 1.5 years and prosecutors countered with 4.5, according to the Associated Press.

While no one was injured during the incident the judge said Welch’s actions “literally left psychological wreckage.”

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