Son of potential Trump assassin arrested on child pornography charges

Prosecutors have said Oran Routh had “hundreds” of files involving the sexual exploitation of minors

The son of the man accused of trying to kill Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been arrested in North Carolina on charges of possession of child pornography, according to local prosecutors.

Court documents show Oran Alexander Routh was arrested Tuesday after being charged with receiving child pornography and possessing child pornography the day before.

According to public records, Oran Routh, 35, is the son of Ryan Wesley Routh, who was charged Tuesday with attempting to assassinate Trump at his West Palm Beach, Florida, golf club in mid-September. Ryan Routh faces several other charges related to illegal possession of a firearm. The 58-year-old, an outspoken supporter of Ukraine and a convicted felon, could face up to life in prison if convicted.

A top US law enforcement official has confirmed to NBC News that the pair are father and son.

According to the complaint, Oran Routh’s Guilford County home was searched Saturday “in connection with an investigation unrelated to child exploitation.”

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A spokesperson for the local Attorney General’s Office told ABC News that the investigation in question involved the investigation of Routh’s father.

“Hundreds” Prosecutors said files showing sexual exploitation of minors were found on two Samsung phones in Oran Routh’s home.

The materials on the first device include “videos from a known child pornography series produced outside the state of North Carolina” of a man with a “prepubescent” girl under the age of 10, the complaint states.

The second phone contained more illegal video files, including one showing a woman with a girl between the ages of 6 and 8.

Prosecutors said a messaging app that “commonly used by individuals who distribute and receive child pornography” installed on the device. A message had been forwarded from that phone asking for a preview of digital content for sale, with two files of adults performing sexual acts on minors in response, they added.

During the search, FBI agents also found cocaine, MDMA and ketamine in Routh’s home, leading to him also being charged with drug possession.

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According to NBC News, Oran Routh has faced at least 39 criminal charges in North Carolina over the past 17 years. He was previously charged with multiple traffic violations, possession of illegal drugs and assault on a woman, which earned him an 18-month probation in 2018.

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