WASHINGTON -- The Salisbury man who police say was inspired by 'fake news' to fire an assault weapon in a Washington pizza shop pleaded guilty Friday.

Authorities say 28-year-old Edgar Maddison Welch entered the Comet Ping Pong restaurant in December to look for tunnels and other evidence in a conspiracy theory that high-profile Democrats were harboring child sex slaves in the restaurant.

Welch eventually surrendered and no one was hurt.

He pleaded guilty to a federal charge of interstate transportation of a firearm and a local charge of assault with a dangerous weapon.

Welch could face up to two years in prison for the federal charge and a maximum of five years for the assault charge.