CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS — A 47-year-old Beeville man, who forced a lock-down at Naval Air Station-Corpus Christi last month, pleaded guilty to charges of destruction of government property and having a stolen handgun.
U.S. attorneys said Brian Dale Robinson pleaded guilty Thursday. Robinson admitted he knew the firearm was stolen, and he intentionally damaged federal property. On Oct. 7, 2019, Robinson was at a gas station in Beeville when he spotted a Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck with the engine running.
He then entered that vehicle without permission and drove straight to Corpus Christi. There, he approached the NAS and attempted to gain unauthorized access to the base by crashing through the gate. However, the vehicle became inoperable after he hit the barricade.
Robinson then got out of the pickup truck and fled on foot into the base with a handgun he had taken from the vehicle and tried to hide it next to a dumpster.
He was arrested at the scene.
Robinson claimed he had suicidal thoughts. However, he opted to drop the weapon so no one else would be hurt.
Robinson sentencing date was set for March 19, 2020. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.