The son of the man who is accused of plotting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his golf course has been arrested in connection with a child sex abuse images case.
Oran Alexander Routh was charged in federal court Monday with a count of receipt of child pornography and a count of possession of child pornography. Court records from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina show he was arrested on Tuesday, but an attorney is not listed for him.
Public records show that Oran Routh is the son of Ryan Wesley Routh, the man authorities believed planned to kill Trump at the former president’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15. Ryan Routh is in custody over two gun-related charges in connection with the alleged assassination plot.
A senior U.S. law enforcement official also confirmed the father-son connection to NBC News after the younger Routh was arrested.
The criminal complaint filed against Oran Routh states that his North Carolina home was searched in connection to an unrelated case. It’s unclear if the unrelated case was the investigation into his father.
According to a criminal complaint, the FBI searched Oran Routh’s home in North Carolina on Saturday. A review of an SD card in a Samsung phone found in his bedroom allegedly uncovered “hundreds” of files containing child sex abuse images.
Files included videos from a “known” series that includes videos of an adult man with a “prepubescent” girl under the age of 10, the complaint said.
A second Samsung phone was found in Oran Routh’s possession, according to the complaint, and included a downloaded folder with additional video files. Investigators reported that they observed one video of an adult woman with a girl between the age of 6 and 8 years old.
The complaint also said investigators found a messaging app on the phone that is “commonly used by individuals who distribute and receive child pornography.” The person who sent messages from the phone asked for a preview of digital content being sold, according to the complaint.
Two files were then sent, both included adults engaging in sexual acts with minors, the complaint said.
A warrant for his arrest was filed in federal court on Monday.
Court records show that Oran Routh is in federal custody. As of Tuesday morning, a preliminary hearing has not been scheduled and he has not entered a plea in his case.
Nicole Duarte contributed.
