Antonio Lamotta, Joshua Macias (Philadelphia Police Department) PHILADELPHIA - Two supporters of President Donald Trump arrested after driving a Hummer with guns and ammunition to a Philadelphia site where votes were being counted in November 2020 were convicted of weapons charges Wednesday but acquitted of election interference.Prosecutors argued that Vets for Trump co-founder Joshua Macias and co-defendant Antonio LaMotta, both of Virginia, planned a mass shooting as the outcome of the presidential election remained uncertain.However, Common Pleas Court Judge Lucretia Clemons rejected that theory, finding the men guilty only of bringing weapons to the city without a permit on Nov.
5, 2020.RELATED COVERAGELaMotta is separately charged with federal misdemeanor offenses stemming from his alleged illegal entry of the U.S.
Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.Both men remain free on bail pending a scheduled sentencing in December, when they face a possible sentence of probation to 18 months in jail, defense lawyer William J.
Brennan said."The commonwealth has presented no evidence to show that they came here to interfere with an election," Brennan, who represents Macias, said after the one-day, non-jury trial. "They came, they stared at a building, they talked to some police officers, and they didn’t bother anybody."The pair were arrested after the FBI in Virginia relayed a tip about their plans to Philadelphia police.