White House Intruder Found With 800 Rounds Of Live Ammo In Car Could Face 10 Years Inside

A court heard on Monday that the homeless U.S. army veteran who jumped the White House fence with a knife on Friday was in possession of more than 800 rounds of ammunition in his car at the time.

42-year-old Omar Gonzalez, who was wearing an orange jumpsuit in court, stood quietly as prosecutor David Mudd revealed that the ammo had been found “in boxes and magazines” during a search of Gonzalez’s car which was parked near to the White House.

As well as the ammo in his vehicle and the knife that Gonzalez had on him when he scaled the fence at the White House, two hatchets and a machete were also found.

Gonzalez, who comes originally from Texas, served on active duty in Iraq under George Bush and has now been charged with unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon.

The court heard that Gonzalez had been freed on bail in July following a felony charge in Virginia where he was found in possession of a shotgun.

When he was arrested in Virginia, police found other weapons in Gonzalez’s car, including a sniper rifle and a map of the White House.

Prosecutor Mudd told Judge John Facciola, “Mr Gonzalez’s preoccupation with the White House and accumulation of a large amount of ammunition… renders him a danger to the president.”

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama had been briefed on Friday’s incident and was obviously concerned about the breach,

“His family lives in the White House, and so he is obviously concerned by the incident that occurred on Friday evening. At the same time, the president continues to have complete confidence in the professionals at the Secret Service.”

President Obama himself, who was en-route to a family weekend away at Camp David at the time of the incident said, “I am grateful for all the sacrifices they make on my behalf, and on my family’s behalf.”

If convicted, Gonzalez could face up to 10 years behind bars.