The suspect charged in connection with Sunday's assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, 58-year-old Ryan Routh, has a long history of legal troubles with several different mugshots.
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.
1997 Criminal Charges
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.
Larceny is the unlawful taking of someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive them of it. It's a form of theft, typically involving personal property, and does not involve violence or breaking into a building (as in burglary). The severity of the crime—whether it's classified as petty or grand larceny—often depends on the value of the stolen property.
2002 Criminal 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.
This can include actions like physically resisting arrest, delaying an investigation, or obstructing the officer's ability to perform their tasks. It covers a broad range of non-cooperative behavior and is often categorized as a misdemeanor in many jurisdictions.
2010 Criminal Charges
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.
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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.
Newsweek reached out to the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
"Mr. Routh has not served time in a North Carolina Correctional Facility," the department told Newsweek. "He was sentenced to probation. His most recent supervision concluded in July 2012 in Guilford County."
After completing his supervision period, he was arrested in 2014 for failing to appear in court.
This can occur in various contexts, such as missing a court date for a criminal case, a civil lawsuit, or a traffic violation. Failing to appear can result in additional legal consequences, such as arrest warrants, fines or other penalties.
Newsweek also reached out to the Greensboro Police Department regarding Routh's criminal charges, however, they have not yet responded.
Routh stayed clear of legal issues for a short period of time before moving to Hawaii.
In 2018, when he relocated to the small town of Kaaawa, Hawaii, approximately 45 minutes from Honolulu. There, he partnered with his adult son to start a business constructing small wooden sheds. According to his LinkedIn page, the goal was to address the high homelessness rate in the U.S. resulting from severe gentrification.
2024 Criminal Charges
Routh now faces gun charges related to a second assassination attempt on Trump.
In a federal court appearance Monday morning, Routh was charged with two gun crimes—possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Routh is due to appear in court again on September 23, for a bond hearing. He could also face further charges.
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