The son of Ryan Wesley Routh, the suspect in an apparent assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, was arrested on federal charges of possessing child sexual abuse images.
Oran Routh was arrested after officials searched his home in Greensboro, North Carolina “in connection with an investigation unrelated to child exploitation,” an FBI official said in court documents.
Investigators seized multiple devices from the residence. The images were allegedly found on two Samsung Galaxy Note devices.
Oran Routh, son of Ryan Wesley Routh, was arrested on charges related to child pornography. He is expected to appear in court later Tuesday.
Guilford County Sheriff’s Office
“A review of the SD card located in Device-1 revealed that it contained hundreds of child pornography files,” prosecutors said in the criminal complaint. “These files include videos from a known child pornography series created outside the state of North Carolina.”
The materials were described in detail in the complaint, which also contained a chat where Oran Routh allegedly responded to someone advertising the content for sale.
He is facing two counts of possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material. He was booked into jail in Guilford County on Monday.
Oran Routh is scheduled to appear in a federal court in North Carolina later Tuesday, where prosecutors are expected to argue for him to remain jailed as his case proceeds.
Ryan Routh’s Legal Troubles
His father, Ryan Wesley Routh, is charged with possession of a firearm while a former felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number in relation to an apparent assassination attempt on Trump.
Ryan Routh did not fire any shots on September 15, but a Secret Service agent spotted a rifle sticking out of the fence at Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach. Trump was playing golf on the course at the time. Ryan Routh fled the scene and was arrested later that day.
Trump was unharmed in the incident. It was the second assassination attempt on Trump in a period of about two months.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Ryon McCabe ruled to detain Ryan Routh without bond on Monday. Ahead of the hearing, the Justice Department released a note allegedly written by Ryan Routh before the apparent assassination attempt.
Ryan Wesley Routh allegedly discussed his plan to attempt an assassination on former president Donald Trump in a letter obtained by investigators. The letter offered a reward for “whomever can complete the job.”
U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Florida and Guilford County Sheriff’s Office via AP
“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job,” the note said, according to prosecutors.
His criminal record, which dates back to the late 1990s, highlights a series of prior encounters with law enforcement.
Routh appears to have spent most of his adult life in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he had multiple run-ins with the law over the years in Guilford County. These included a 2002 felony conviction for possessing a weapon of mass destruction and a 2010 felony for stolen goods. His record also includes numerous misdemeanors.
Police arrested Routh for committing larceny after he unlawfully took property with the intent to keep it. The arrest followed an investigation into the theft, where authorities determined Routh had stolen valuable items, leading to charges.
Authorities charged Routh with a felony for allegedly possessing a “fully automatic machine gun,” an arrest that followed his reported flight from a traffic stop.
According to the arrest report, police later apprehended him at United Roofing, 1735 W. Lee St., where he worked. He had driven to the location and barricaded himself inside. Additionally, authorities charged him with resisting, delaying, and obstructing a public officer.
In 1997, police arrested Routh for committing larceny after he unlawfully took property with the intent to keep it.
Guilford County Sheriff’s Office
Routh faced another felony conviction for possession of stolen goods, along with several misdemeanors such as carrying a concealed weapon, hit-and-run, speeding and driving with a revoked license.
Court records indicate detectives found stolen building supplies and other items at his roofing business warehouse, where he was residing. The stolen goods were reportedly sold to fund his crack cocaine addiction, according to a police affidavit used to obtain a search warrant.
In both felony cases in 2002 and 2010, Routh received either probation or a suspended sentence, avoiding prison time. It remains unclear how Routh acquired the weapon, as most states prohibit felons from purchasing or possessing firearms.
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