The 28-year-old accused North Carolina "Pizzagate" gunman who captured the nation's attention on December 4, 2016 after being arrested on weapons-related charges in Washington, DC, is negotiating a plea deal with federal prosecutors, according to court records.

Edgar Maddison Welch allegedly drove from his home state of North Carolina to DC to "self-investigate" a pizza restaurant at the center of the Pizzagate conspiracy theory. He brazenly walked in carrying a loaded assault weapon and sent restaurant patrons and employees running for their lives, the government said. Court documents (PDF) lodged Wednesday in the case say his lawyer and prosecutors are finalizing "the paperwork regarding a non-trial disposition in this matter."

Welch faces years in prison in connection to an indictment (PDF) accusing him of three weapons-related charges that include one count of interstate transportation of a firearm, a count of assault with a dangerous weapon, and a final allegation of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

The defendant has pleaded not guilty and remains jailed. The authorities have asked the judge not to offer Welch bail and in the process summed up (PDF) the charges against him. They include allegations of firing rounds in the Comet Ping Pong pizzeria—which is at the center of the baseless Pizzagate conspiracy theory—in DC and pointing an assault rifle at a restaurant employee.

The theory has its origins in a white supremacist's tweets, the 4chan message board, Reddit, Donald Trump supporters, and right-wing blogs. The Pizzagate conspiracy names the Comet Ping Pong as the secret headquarters of a nonexistent child sex-trafficking ring run by then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and members of her inner circle.

According to the government:

On December 4, 2016, the defendant transported three loaded firearms (together with additional ammunition) across state lines, from North Carolina to Washington, D.C. The firearms included a 9mm AR-15 assault rifle loaded with approximately 29 rounds of ammunition, a fully-loaded 6-shot .38 caliber revolver, and a loaded shotgun and additional shotgun shells. The defendant drove directly from North Carolina to the Comet Ping Pong (“Comet”) restaurant on Connecticut Avenue in Washington, D.C. The defendant was motivated, at least in part, by unfounded rumors concerning a child sex-trafficking ring that was being perpetrated by high-profile individuals at Comet. The defendant took it upon himself to act, contemplating a violent confrontation at the restaurant. He attempted to recruit at least two other people to join him, explaining to them that they would be “sacraficing [sic] the lives of a few for the lives of many,” and “[s]tanding up against a corrupt system that kidnaps, tortures and rapes babies and children in our own backyard.” During the journey from North Carolina to Washington, D.C., at about 1:06 p.m., the defendant sent a text message to friends, asking whether they would take care of his family, “if anything happens to” him. Upon arriving at the Comet restaurant, the defendant parked his car and armed himself. At about 3:00 p.m, he marched into the restaurant, which was occupied by employees and customers, including children. The defendant knew that the restaurant was open; he knew that there were people inside; and he continued in.

The government said he shot at a computer in the restaurant, and at one of the locks in a backroom door. The authorities said they found four shell casings in all. The government, however, did not say what type of casings were discovered at the restaurant.

Whether Welch would actually plead guilty, however, is unclear. The government and Welch's defense counsel have asked the judge three times to delay a trial so they could work out a deal; no deal has been reached so far.

Welch's attorney did not immediately respond for comment. However, Jelahn Stewart, a federal prosecutor, told Ars in a telephone interview that a plea hearing has been set for March 24. Stewart declined to elaborate on what deal, if any, has been reached.