White House Fence Jumper Enters Not Guilty Plea

Dana Verkouteren/AP Photo

Omar Gonzalez, the man accused of jumping a perimeter fence and running through the first floor of the White House armed with a knife, appeared in federal court today as his lawyer entered a plea of "not guilty" to the charges against him.

Gonzalez, wearing an orange jumpsuit , was led into the courtroom with his hands behind his back and said nothing during the hearing. He listened intently and at one point whispered with his lawyer, public defender David Bos. Gonzalez had a beard, bald head and tiny pony tail.

Today marks the first time the public has seen Gonzalez since the details of his September 19 excursion into the White House were revealed, and the appearance comes a day after Secret Service Director Julia Pierson was grilled by Congress on security lapses.

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After his arrest, Gonzalez was charged with unlawfully entering a restricted building while carrying a dangerous weapon. On Monday, a federal grand jury indicted him for that federal offense as well as violations of DC law: carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or place of business, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Today, Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, said that the accused's next appearance would be October 21 at 10:30. He will be held without bond.

The issue of Gonzalez' competence came up when the judge announced she had received a report from pre-trial services. She suggested she was poised to order a forensic screening.

In court Bos objected saying there was "no basis" for the screening at this time. Bos pointed out that neither he nor the government had requested a competency evaluation. The judge gave Bos until tomorrow to file a motion on the matter.

Outside of court in the hallway Bos said that if a screening is done, he would insist it be done by one of his experts.