Brandon Wagshol appears for a pre-trial hearing with his father on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019, at the Superior Court in Stamford.

Brandon Wagshol, 28, had a probation violation hearing on Monday, which resulted in a sentence of three years, suspended after two years and six months served, followed by three years of probation, according to judicial records. 

Andrew Gould, who represents Wagshol, said his client has been incarcerated for more than two years, mostly at Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown, which provides treatment for adult male offenders with significant mental health issues. Gould said Wagshol has already served most of the time, and his maximum release date is Sept. 11, according to the Connecticut Department of Corrections. 

He called the sentence “fair in light of all the time that he’s done.”

“He’s committed to getting his mental health in order and hopefully everything around him will help him remain stable,” Gould said on Wednesday. 

Wagshol was charged with illegal use of a facsimile firearm, carrying a dangerous weapon and second-degree breach of peace. 

The Norwalk man was on probation at the time of his arrest. In 2021, he was given a 10-year prison sentence, to be suspended after serving four years, followed by five years of probation. The sentence was part of a deal in which Wagshol pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and illegal possession of high-capacity magazines. 

He was released from prison in October 2023. 

Wagshol has a history of violent behavior, officials said, and was found walking along Connecticut Avenue in Norwalk on Oct. 23, 2023, wearing a gas mask and appearing disoriented, according to an arrest warrant for violating his probation. He was taken to Norwalk Hospital and remained there as an inpatient until Nov. 13, the documents stated. He continued to suffer from the delusions during his stay, up until at least Nov. 7, according to the documents, which said he “still has military delusions; he does not care what anyone says.”

The probation stems from an arrest in Norwalk in August 2019 after police said they received tips from the FBI that he was attempting to illegally purchase extended magazine clips in New Hampshire. Wagshol had been a student at Central Connecticut State University at the time. 

Investigators wrote in the warrant that Wagshol had an interest in mass shootings that dated back to 2008 when he was a sixth-grader at Ponus Ridge Middle School. In November of that year, Wagshol threatened to shoot another student using his father’s guns after the other child’s talking made it hard for him to concentrate, the warrant said. 

Wagshol was arrested again in February 2020 after police say he assaulted his father with a pipe.

Gould said on Wednesday it’s a struggle to get defendants with mental health needs the treatment they need. 

“There’s no great options for mental health treatment in a lot of cases,” he said. “He ended up doing a lot of time and this is just another case in a number of cases in America where people require comprehensive mental health treatment, which is unfortunately in very short supply.”

Anyone who has thoughts of harming themselves or seeks access to free and confidential mental health support can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-8255 (en Español: 888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing dial 711 and then 988) or visit 988Lifeline.org.