Las Vegas Sun

April 16, 2024

Man accused of barging into White House indicted

WASHINGTON — Accused White House fence-jumper Omar J. Gonzalez was indicted Tuesday on federal and local charges for allegedly intruding into the presidential mansion armed with a folding knife.

A three-count federal grand jury indictment accuses the Army veteran of unlawfully entering a restricted building while carrying a deadly weapon, a federal charge. He also was charged with two violations of District of Columbia law — carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home and unlawful possession of ammunition in the Sept. 19 incident.

The federal charge carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison, the D.C. weapons charge a maximum of five years. The unlawful possession of ammunition charge carries a one-year maximum.

Gonzalez, 42, of Copperas Cove, Texas, is scheduled to appear Wednesday before Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson in U.S. District Court in Washington.

The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen and Kathy A. Michalko, special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service.

After Gonzalez's Sept. 19 arrest, he gave consent to search his vehicle, which was parked nearby, where authorities found hundreds of rounds of ammunition, two hatchets and a machete.

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