Accused White House fence jumper faces three new charges

The man accused of running deep into the White House during a major security breach in September faces three additional charges after a grand jury approved a new indictment Thursday.

Omar Gonzalez, a 42-year-old Iraq war veteran, now faces two federal counts of assaulting officers and one District of Columbia count of possessing a large-capacity ammunition magazine, which is banned in the district. These new charges are in addition to three counts previously returned by the grand jury, which included entering a restricted building and carrying a deadly weapon.

The new charges were added as the investigation continued, according to Bill Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

In a security lapse that helped lead to the resignation of Secret Service Director Julia Pierson this month, Gonzalez scaled the White House fence Sept. 19 and ran into the building through a front door that had been left unlocked, authorities said. He was tackled by two Secret Service officers after running a distance into the building.

When authorities searched his car parked nearby, they found hatchets, a machete and hundreds of ammunition rounds, according to the Department of Justice. Gonzalez was also found to be carrying a small folding pocketknife. He later told agents that “the atmosphere was collapsed” and that he needed to speak with President Obama.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for this month. Gonzalez remains in federal custody, having waived his rights to a detention hearing in his most recent court appearance.

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