A Bethesda man arrested as a teen for stockpiling bomb-making materials has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison, News4's Chris Gordon reported.
Collin McKenzie-Gude, 20, pleaded guilty in September to possessing bomb-making chemicals. A former friend testified last week that McKenzie-Gude disliked Obama's gun control views and planned to assassinate the then-presidential candidate.
McKenzie-Gude's parents accused of plotting to kill President Barack Obama said their son has long expressed an interest in working for the CIA or military. They testified at the sentencing hearing Tuesday.
Debra McKenzie-Gude said she had been "very excited" about Obama's candidacy. She said her son planned to major in international relations at American University.
Joseph Gude said he's always viewed his son as a "young man anxious to get to his career."
U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte handed down a 61-month sentence. The judge said he hopes the case sends a message that collecting weapons and chemicals and coming up with assault plans, as McKenzie-Gude did, was not play-acting and could have had serious consequences.
"I cannot tell you how sorry I am," a crying McKenzie-Gude told the judge.
