White House fence jumper pleads guilty in deal with prosecutors
White House fence jumper pleads guilty in deal with prosecutors
(about 4 hours later)
A troubled U.S. Army veteran pleaded guilty Friday to two counts related to a Sept. 19 incident in which he jumped the White House fence and ran into the executive mansion while carrying a folding knife in his pocket.
The man who jumped the White House fence and ran into the executive mansion carrying a folding knife in his pocket Sept. 19 pleaded guilty Friday to two felony counts related to the incident, which triggered a far-reaching shake-up of the U.S. Secret Service.
Omar J. Gonzalez, 43, who has said he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, was convicted of entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly weapon, and to assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers.
Omar J. Gonzalez, 43, an Army veteran of the Iraq war who has said he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, had entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors that calls for a prison sentence under federal guidelines of 12 to 18 months and a fine of $3,000 to $30,000.
Under federal sentencing rules and as a first-offender, Gonzalez and federal prosecutors reached a plea agreement that recommends a prison sentence of 12 to 18 months and a fine of $3,000 to $30,000.
“I enter a plea of guilty, your honor,” Gonzalez, a first-time offender, said during the 40-minute hearing in federal court in the District, which he attended unshackled and wearing an orange jail jumpsuit. Based on his plea, he was convicted of entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly weapon and of assaulting a federal officer.
U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer of the District set sentencing for June 8, and ordered Gonzalez to remain jailed without bond.
U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer scheduled sentencing for June 8 and ordered Gonzalezto remain in custody without bond.
“I enter a plea of guilty, your honor,” Gonzalez said during the 40-minute hearing in U.S. District Court, which he attended unshackled, wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, and appearing less tense than in earlier court appearances.
His attorney, David Bos, an assistant federal public defender, did not immediately comment on the plea.
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. said in a written statement that his office was “pleased that Mr. Gonzalez has chosen to take responsibility for his incomprehensible decision to leap a fence and charge into the White House with a knife.”
In a written statement, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. said his office was “pleased that Mr. Gonzalez has chosen to take responsibility for his incomprehensible decision to leap a fence and charge into the White House with a knife.”
“He is lucky to be alive,” Machen wrote, adding “We hope that this prosecution deters others in the future from taking any actions that threaten the First Family, the White House, and the public servants who work there.”
“He is lucky to be alive,” Machen wrote, adding, “We hope that this prosecution deters others in the future from taking any actions that threaten the First Family, the White House, and the public servants who work there.”
Assistant federal public defender David Bos did not immediately comment.
In court documents, Gonzalez acknowledged dashing across the White House lawn and bursting through an unlocked North Portico door, where he knocked back an officer before being tackled and arrested. He explained upon arrest that he was concerned that the “atmosphere was collapsing” and needed to inform the president
Gonzalez has been held since earlier pleading not guilty to all counts related to the security breach. The incident prompted searing criticism of the U.S. Secret Service and scrutiny that has triggered the departure of the agency's entire senior leadership.
Security weaknesses exposed by Gonzalez’s actions prompted searing criticism of the Secret Service, and the subsequent scrutiny led to the departure of the agency’s senior leadership.
President Obama last month named Joseph P. Clancy, former chief of his presidential protective detail, as new permanent head of the Secret Service, but Republicans in Congress have pressed for greater oversight of agency lapses. An independent panel last December called for more sweeping changes, including outside leadership, more agents and officers, and a higher White House fence.
Last month, President Obama named Joseph P. Clancy, former chief of his presidential protective detail, the permanent head of the Secret Service. In December, an independent panel had called for more extensive changes, including new leadership chosen from outside the agency, an increase in the number of agents and officers, and a higher White House fence.
Authorities have said Gonzalez dashed across the White House lawn and burst through the unlocked North Portico door, eluding agents and running through several rooms of the mansion before being tackled by an off-duty agent who happened to be walking through.
Republicans in Congress have pressed for greater oversight of the agency because of its embarrassing lapses, the most recent of which occurred this month when two senior agents, returning from a party at a bar, drove through an active investigation of a suspicious package before their vehicle struck a White House security barricade.
A search of his vehicle parked nearby on Constitution Avenue NW turned up 800 rounds of ammunition, two hatchets and a machete, authorities said.
Under his plea deal with prosecutors, Gonzalez agreed not to enter the District while still under supervision after his release from prison and to submit to psychiatric evaluation and security assessments by the Secret Service, assuming that those conditions are part of the sentence of the court.
According to the Secret Service, Gonzalez told an agent that he was concerned that the “atmosphere was collapsing” and that he needed to inform the president to alert the public.
Prosecutors dropped a second federal count of assaulting an officer and D.C. charges of carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business and unlawful possession of ammunition and of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device. Authorities found 800 rounds of ammunition, two hatchets and a machete in his vehicle parked near the White House on Constitution Avenue NW.
After psychological evaluation, Gonzalez was found mentally competent in December.
In addition to the charges for which Gonzalez pleaded guilty, the government agreed to drop a second federal count of assaulting an officer, and D.C. charges of carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business, and unlawful possession of ammunition and of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device in his vehicle.
Earlier, on Aug. 25, Secret Service officers questioned Gonzalez after seeing him carrying a hatchet in the back waistband of his pants along the south fence of the White House. Gonzalez consented to a search of his vehicle, and officers found only camping gear and two dogs and released him, prosecutors have said.
Gonzalez also faces a March 19 hearing in Wythe County, Va., on two state felony counts arising from a July 19 incident in which he was stopped on Interstate 81 after allegedly eluding police and carrying a sawed-off shotgun, a map with a line pointing to the White House and an assortment of other weapons and ammunition.
As part of the plea deal in the District, both sides agreed to recommend that Gonzalez be barred from entering the District except for court appearances during a period of supervised release after he serves his sentence. The deal also recommends that Gonzalez be required to participate in a psychiatric evaluation and security assessments by the Secret Service, give it access to his mental health records, and to not have physical or online contact with the agency.
