Ryan Wesley Routh has been criminally charged in federal court, and state charges are expected to come shortly, for his alleged attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump on Sunday.
Routh made his initial court appearance Monday at a federal courthouse in West Palm Beach, Florida, on two charges related to the firearm he brought to the outskirts of the Trump International Golf Club in an apparent attempt to assassinate Trump. Here is how much jail time Routh could receive for the two charges, if convicted.
The first charge levied at Routh was a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), Possession of a Firearm by a
Prohibited Person — Convicted Felon. Routh has a lengthy criminal past and was unlawfully possessing the “AK-47 style rifle with a scope” authorities said he had when they confronted him on Sunday.
The maximum penalty for this offense, according to the filing by the Justice Department in court Monday, is 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
The U.S. Sentencing Commission found that 97.5% of those convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) were sentenced to prison, with the average prison sentence being 68 months — or five years and eight months. The commission also found that 88.5% of convictions under the statute were due to a prior felony conviction, which is what the Justice Department is accusing Routh of violating.
For the other charge levied against Routh, he is accused of violating 18 U.S.C. § 922(k), Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number. The maximum prison sentence for this offense is five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
If the maximum sentences are combined, Routh could see as much as 20 years in prison if he is found guilty of the two charges levied against him.
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While Routh is now facing these two gun charges, more charges could be on the way. State Attorney for Palm Beach County David Aronberg said Sunday that Routh will face charges at the state level.
Multiple investigations into the attempted assassination of Trump are underway, including from the FBI, Secret Service, Congress, and the state of Florida.