Ryan Wesley Routh, who was caught Sunday with a rifle and scope at a golf course where former President Donald Trump was playing, could spend up to 20 years in prison, the Washington Examiner reported. Routh faces two federal weapons charges, with more likely coming at the state level for the convicted felon.
Authorities believe Routh was at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach intending to assassinate the former president, the second such incident since July. Congress, the Secret Service, the FBI, and the state of Florida are all investigating the circumstances surrounding Routh's offense.
On Monday, Routh appeared in federal court in West Palm Beach for his first hearing. He was charged with illegally possessing a weapon as a felon after he was caught with the "AK-47 style rifle with a scope" by authorities.
That charge carries a $250,000 fine and up to 15 years in prison, with another three years of supervised release. Routh was also charged with Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, which carries another $250,000 fine and five years in prison with three years of supervised release.
According to Fox News, Routh's demeanor in court was incongruous to the gravity of his situation. Although cameras were not permitted, reporters noted that the 58-year-old smiled and laughed a few times as the judge questioned him.
When asked whether he could afford an attorney, Routh said that his income was insufficient and that he had no assets. He makes only $3,000 a month and has no real estate holdings or liquid savings.
The would-be assassin also claimed that he was supporting his 25-year-old son. Despite his lack of assets, Routh was resourceful enough to plan his ambush against Trump.
Secret Service agents discovered Routh after seeing the muzzle of his rifle sticking out through the bushes just 400 yards from where Trump was playing. They fired on him, and he fled the scene, leaving his rifle, scope, GoPro camera, and two backpacks.
The gun, which authorities told Fox was an SKS-type rifle, is not available in Florida and was likely transported over state or country lines, though no charges to that effect have been filed. Investigators are still trying to piece together a motive, but Routh has a troubled history.
Routh has a checkered past that includes many run-ins with the law. One of the most notable is his 2002 conviction in North Carolina for "possessing a weapon of mass destruction," The Hill reported.
Following a traffic stop, Routh holed up in his roofing business with a machine gun. He was later convicted of the weapon charges as well as driving with a revoked license, resisting an officer, and carrying a concealed weapon, which could all impact his sentencing for the assassination attempt.
However, Routh served no jail time for that incident but was put on probation. The charging officer, Tracy Fulk, was shocked to hear about Routh's recent "escapades" involving the president.
"I figured he was either dead or in prison by now," Fulk said. Over the years, Routh has been charged with writing bad checks and several traffic violations, though it doesn't explain his move to political violence.
Routh deserves to be behind bars if convicted of this attack. Unfortunately, the people around Trump weren't more diligent in making sure someone like him wouldn't get so close to a former president and current GOP presidential candidate.
