Ryan Wesley Routh charges revealed: Trump attempted murder suspect faces multiple felony charges after first court appearance

The would-be assassin accused of trying to kill Donald Trump smiled and laughed as he made his initial appearance in federal court Monday, where he was charged with weapons possession.

Police have released a new photo of suspect Ryan Wesley Routh, smiling and exposing his stomach, after he was arrested in West Palm Beach, Florida, as he fled the scene of an attempted assassination of the former president.

The 58-year-old is accused of pointing an AK-47 through a fence at the Republican presidential candidate while playing a round of golf at Trump International Golf Club on Sunday.

Trump, 78, was unharmed and escorted to safety by the Secret Service in another grim incident, less than two months after he was shot in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Routh wore black prison garb and had his hands and feet shackled as he walked into the Paul G Rogers Federal Courthouse Monday morning.

The hearing lasted eight minutes and Routh was indicted on two counts: possession of a firearm while a convicted felon; and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.

It is unclear where Routh got the gun, especially since it is not a firearm available for sale in Florida.

Ryan Wesley Routh, the gunman accused of trying to kill Donald Trump on Sunday, appeared in federal court Monday with his hands and feet in shackles. Pictured: Police released an image of Routh’s arrest Monday after he fled 50 miles from Trump International Golf Club

He faces up to 20 years in prison for the first two charges.

Charging documents released Monday show that Routh loitered outside Trump’s golf course for nearly 12 hours on Sunday before fleeing the scene.

The construction worker’s cell phone was tracked in the woods surrounding the trail from 1:59 a.m. on Sunday until 1:31 p.m.

This new information suggests that Routh was watching the location and somehow knew in advance that the former president would be golfing there on Sunday.

Routh is due to appear in court in two weeks.

The Secret Service opened fire on Routh in West Palm Beach after seeing the barrel of his AK-47 stick through a fence at the Trump International Golf Club while the Republican candidate was playing a round of golf.

Routh was arrested Sunday in Martin County, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the scene of the golf course shooting.

The suspect gave routine information to court officials during Monday’s hearing.

Those in the room report that Routh spoke in a soft voice 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 in Hawaii and which he claims are worth about $1,000.

Routh says he sometimes helps support his 25-year-old son.

He has not appealed Monday’s charges, in part because he does not yet have permanent legal representation.

At a press conference shortly after his court appearance, Martin County Sheriff Will Snyder raised questions about whether Routh was involved in a conspiracy.

“How can someone who doesn’t live here travel all the way to Trump International, realize the former president of the United States is golfing and pick up a gun in that area?” the sheriff asked local media.

“Is this man part of a conspiracy, a lone gunman?” he continued.

“If he’s a lone gunman, President Trump is so much safer because we have him,” Snyder said. “If he’s part of a conspiracy, then this whole thing takes on a very ominous tone.”

At another point, Snyder said, “This is a once in a lifetime event. How many people shoot the former president of the United States? That poor guy’s been shot once and then this suspect comes to this county.”

Snyder compared himself and his team to the Dallas police who captured President John F. Kennedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald.

Routh smiled and laughed as he arrived at the courthouse Monday

Routh was charged with two counts — possession of a firearm while a convicted felon; and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number — and is scheduled to appear in court in two weeks

A February 2010 arrest photo of Routh taken by the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina

He also said Routh seemed surprised when they found him and claimed he was driving with the flow of traffic.

“I think he thought he could get away with it,” the local sheriff said.

“He couldn’t have known that there was a witness who actually did the right thing,” he added.

“He just drove back to where he came from.”

He added that there is no knowledge so far of Routh’s ties to Martin County or any other Florida community near Trump’s golf club.

Routh faces a total of up to 20 years in prison for both charges, including a maximum of 15 years if he is convicted of possessing a firearm while a convicted felon, and five years for the second charge.

His bail hearing is scheduled for Sept. 23, and a probable cause hearing – or arraignment – ​​is scheduled for Sept. 30.

On Sunday, Palm Beach police and the FBI held a press conference, where they shared images and details of Routh’s plot.

Footage showed Routh hanging a backpack and bag from the fence at the sixth hole of the golf course. He also left behind a GoPro camera, his AK-47-style rifle and a ceramic-coated bulletproof armor.

West Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw holds up an image of Routh’s backpack, purse, GoPro and AK-47-style rifle that he left behind outside Trump International Golf Club on Sunday as he fled the scene when the Secret Service opened fire.

The gunman was standing two holes away from where Trump was golfing Sunday when Secret Service shots were fired in his direction. The hole is the area of ​​the course closest to the road and has the most “vulnerabilities,” according to those familiar with the situation.

The charges are the most preliminary and can be added during the trial and investigation.

The suspect was not charged Monday with making threats against a former president or presidential candidate, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of five years, which could be extended because he also allegedly carried an AR-15 rifle and attempted to kill the former president.

Part of Routh’s rap sheet in North Carolina includes “gun violations” and “terrorist threats” dating back to 2002, according to public records. And a three-hour standoff with police in North Carolina.

When Routh was 36 years old in 2002, he was convicted of possession of a weapon of mass destruction.

He was arrested after a standoff with police, during which he barricaded himself inside a local roofing company in Greensboro after driving away at a high rate of speed with a firearm during a traffic stop.