Official: Teen in firearms case had Camp David map
By Associated Press
Aug 6, 2008 2:18 PM CDT
Collin McKenzie-Gude of Bethesda, Md., is seen in an undated handout photo release by the Montgomery County Police Deptartment Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008. The 18-year-old faces charges of manufacture and possession of a destructive device. His father, Joe Gude, who authorities say bought weapons for his...   (Associated Press)

Police investigating a teenager accused of bomb-making and weapons violations found a map of Camp David with a presidential motorcade route in his home, a Montgomery County prosecutor said.

Collin McKenzie-Gude, 18, of Bethesda, also had a document that appears to describe how to kill someone 200 meters away, Montgomery Assistant State's Attorney Peter A. Feeney said.

The teen had two forms of fake identification _ one portraying him as a Central Intelligence Agency employee and another as a federal contractor, Feeney said. The details were revealed Tuesday in a bond hearing in the case, The Washington Post reported.

District Court Judge J. Michael Conroy kept McKenzie-Gude in jail on a $750,000 bond, reduced from $1 million. The teen faces charges of weapons violations, possession of explosives and attempted carjacking.

Authorities said they found 50 pounds of chemicals, assault-style weapons and armor-piercing bullets in his home. The investigation has expanded to include the CIA, FBI and Secret Service.

"Collin has never been in trouble before," defense attorney Steven Kupferberg said in court Tuesday. He said police have rushed to judgment against a student who participated in ROTC and "was never considered to be a disciplinary problem in any sense."

Reached Wednesday, Kupferberg declined comment, except to say 'All that glitters is not gold,' when asked about the map of Camp David and its importance.

Joseph Gude, 62, McKenzie-Gude's father and a retired Air Force captain who works for the Treasury Department, also faces charges of buying guns for his son. Court documents do not list an attorney for him.

A 17-year-old student was charged as a juvenile in the case but was not identified because of his age. He worked recently as an intern at a Montgomery County police station, and authorities believe he stole police letterhead to obtain items normally restricted to law enforcement officers.

Feeney provided no details on the map of the Camp David presidential retreat.

Police said they also found a list of home addresses for teachers at the teens' school with some names highlighted.

Both teens attended St. John's College High School in the District of Columbia, a private Catholic school with a strong military background. McKenzie-Gude was scheduled to start classes this fall at American University.

"They were St. John's kids. Just good kids," said Matt Feldman, a former St. John's teacher who now teaches at another school. "There was nothing dark about them at all."

The carjacking charge against McKenzie-Gude stems from an incident last week when he learned detectives wanted to search his house.

Prosecutors said the teen panicked and drove to White Flint Mall, then walked up to a 78-year-old man, demanding his keys. Police said McKenzie-Gude hit the man and knocked him to the ground when he refused to give them up. The teen later fled when he couldn't start the man's car.

"It's unconscionable, it's inexcusable, I don't know what you want to call it to attack a 78-year-old," Judge Conroy said.