Ryan Wesley Routh, the gunman accused of trying to kill Donald Trump on Sunday, made his first appearance in federal court with his hands and feet shackled.
The 58-year-old was brought in wearing a dark prison uniform as he awaits federal prosecutors’ charges over the alleged plot to assassinate the former president.
Walking outside the courthouse Monday before his first appearance, Routh was smiling and laughing.
The hearing lasted eight minutes and Routh was charged with two counts: possession of a firearm while a convicted felon; and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
It will be processed within two weeks.
The Secret Service opened fire on Routh in West Palm Beach after seeing the barrel of his AK-47 crash through a fence at Trump International Golf Club while the Republican candidate was playing a round.
Ryan Wesley Routh, the gunman accused of trying to kill Donald Trump on Sunday, appeared in federal court with his hands and feet shackled on Monday.
Routh could face up to 20 years in prison in total for both charges, a maximum of 15 if convicted of possession of a firearm while a convicted felon and five years for the second charge.
The suspect provided routine information to court officials during the hearing.
Those in the room reported that Routh spoke softly and said he makes about $3,000 a month. He says he has no savings, real estate or assets other than his two trucks, which are located in Hawaii and which he says are worth about $1,000.
Routh says he sometimes helps support his 25-year-old son.
He did not enter a plea to Monday’s charges in part because he does not yet have permanent legal representation.
His bond hearing is set for Sept. 23 and a probable cause hearing — or arraignment — is scheduled for Sept. 30.
Routh is unlikely to be able to plead guilty or not guilty to Monday’s charges, in part because he does not yet have permanent legal representation.
The charges are only preliminary and more may be added throughout the trial and investigation.
The suspect was not charged Monday with making threats against a former president or presidential candidate, which carries a maximum sentence of five years that could be extended since he was also allegedly wielding an AR-15 rifle and attempted to kill the former president.
Routh was smiling and laughing when he arrived at the courthouse on Monday.
Routh has been charged with two counts and is due to appear in court in two weeks.
According to public records, Routh’s criminal record in North Carolina includes “gun violations” and “terrorist threats” in 2002, as well as a three-hour standoff with law enforcement in North Carolina.
In 2002, when Routh was 36, he was convicted of possession of a weapon of mass destruction.
He was arrested after a standoff with police where he barricaded himself inside a local roofing business in Greensboro after speeding away from a traffic stop with a firearm.
