White House intruder pleads guilty to assault, illegal entry

published 13 March 2015

Omar Gonzalez, an Iraq war veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, pled guilty on Friday to illegally entering and running through the White House while armed with a knife. Gonzalez faces up to 18 years in prison for both charges, plus thousands in fines. Prosecution and defense attorneys had previously agreed sentencing guidelines called for 12 to 18 months in prison and possible fines.

Gonzalez was charged with climbing over the White House fence on Sept. 19 and racing across the north lawn, making it to the East Room before he was tackled by Secret Service. He told one agent that he needed to inform President Obama about the atmosphere's impending collapse.

This comes after a string of embarrassments for the Secret Service. The agency's director stepped down in October, and most recently, two agents allegedly drove drunk through an area at the White House during the investigation of a suspicious package.