Idaho man charged with trying to assassinate Obama

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho man accused of firing an assault rifle at the White House believed he was Jesus and thought President Barack Obama was the anti-Christ.

He had become increasingly agitated with the federal government, and at one point suggested the president was planning to implant computer tracking chips into children, according to court documents and those who knew him.

Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, 21, was charged today with attempting to assassinate the president or his staff. He is accused of firing nine rounds at the White House last Friday night — one of them cracking a window of the first family's living quarters — when Obama and the first lady were away. If convicted, Ortega faces up to life in prison.

Ortega was arrested Wednesday at a western Pennsylvania hotel when a desk clerk there recognized him and called police.

Ortega's public defender, Christopher Brown, declined comment after his first court hearing in Pennsylvania. Ortega's mother has said he has no history of mental illness, though authorities had reported he had "mental health issues" when looking for him.