Jonathan Tuan Tran, of Milpitas, CA, was sentenced on Monday for a misdemeanor charge dating back to March 2017 when he breached the security perimeter of the White House. After 27-year-old Tran pleaded guilty to knowingly entering and staying on restricted grounds, U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, Washington, D.C., gave him probation for two years, the Washington Post noted.

In addition to probation, Judge Boasberg ordered Tran to stay clear of the White House, the National Mall, Trump hotels, and Trump properties worldwide, according to William Miller, who is a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Washington, D.C.

After Tran scaled a five-foot fence outside the White House on March 10, 2017, he freely roamed the grounds for almost 17 minutes until Secret Service detected and arrested him. Tran was carrying a backpack, mace, and a letter for President Trump. The fence jumper told a Secret Service agent that he and the President were friends and that he had an appointment with the President, according to court records. Trans said he was at the White House to warn the President about “fake news,” the Post stated.

Fence jumper, diagnosed with depression and paranoid schizophrenia, regrets actions

This summer, Tran was diagnosed with depression and with paranoid schizophrenia, according to the Post. Tran was not armed during his security breach.

However, the intrusion did trip multiple alarms. Based on surveillance video and accounts provided by Secret Service, Tran was able to look into a window at the White House, where he also hid behind a pillar at one point.

Tran did offer the court a brief statement on Monday. He was clearly apologetic in saying, “I severely regret what I did.” He acknowledged, as well, “Clearly it was wrong.” He said that his intention was not to encourage others to copy-cat his behavior.

Tran stated that his “mind was in another place,” the Post relayed.

Federal prosecutors wanted prison for intruder, while defense lawyer leveraged mental illness

Federal prosecutors were aiming to see Tran receive six months in prison due to an increase in attempted and successful fence-jumping incidents in 2017. Each incident causes local and federal agencies to divert resources from other emergencies.

Judge Boasberg expressed his agreement with prosecutors in stating that Tran’s actions did not constitute a victimless crime since government officials were distracted as a result. “This is a serious crime,” the judge said, “and it needs to be taken seriously,” according to the Post.

Tony W. Miles, Assistant Federal Defender, objected to any length of incarceration for Tran. Miles conveyed that incarceration would be unjust, pointing out that Tran had no criminal history, but does have a mental illness. Miles also explained that Tran had complied with his release terms while he awaited his sentencing and that he also responded to treatment well. Miles attributed Tran’s offensive to a mental health episode that was uncontrolled.

David J. Mudd, Assistant U.S. Attorney, addressed the court with a written statement. Mudd noted that Tran has an obsession with President Trump that, without incarceration, will enable him to remain a continuing threat. Mudd expounded on the prosecution’s stance by also pointing out a message that Tran posted to social media following his arrest in March. Mudd stated that in the message, Tran wrote that he had gone to the White House wanting to speak to the President during the daytime in order to “clear up this dossier fiasco,” the Post reported.

Judge Boasberg requested that Tran continue cooperating in the Service Service’s threat assessment and also stay the course with his mental health treatment.
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