Michigan Woman Arrested Outside White House Had 25 Rounds of Ammunition in Pocket: Court

A Michigan woman arrested outside the White House Thursday with a handgun holstered on her front hip had more than 25 rounds of ammunition in her pocket, according to court documents filed during her arraignment Friday.

April DeBois Lenhart, 23, of Mount Morris was ordered held until a preliminary hearing Monday on charges of possession of an unregistered handgun and ammunition, and carrying a pistol without a license, The Washington Post reports.

Identified in court by her maiden name of DeBois, she was arrested amid a large group of people demonstrating outside the White House as President Obama outlined a sweeping plan to give temporary relief to 5 million immigrants in the country illegally.

DeBois Lenhart has not made any statements since her arrest and has been described by authorities as uncooperative, according to reports.

It’s unclear whether DeBois Lenhart was part of the demonstration, but a pastor at the nondenominational Eagles Nest Church in Mount Morris, where she regularly worships, told The Flint Journal/MLive he didn’t know her to have any political leanings.

Pastor Larry Survance described the parishioner as “a wonderful young lady” and said he was “totally baffled by the whole situation.”

Friends and relatives shared similar sentiments about the DeBois Lenhart, who was married for two years before divorcing in 2012. Her brother, David DeBois, told the Flint newspaper that she had kept her married name.

He said he knew his sister had gone to Washington, DC, with a friend, but he was unsure of the reason. He said he was “totally thrown off guard” by her arrest.

“I even spoke with the Secret Service and told them I have no idea,” David DeBois said. “It’s a total shocker.”

A cousin, Andrea Murray, described DeBois Lenhart as devoutly religious.

“The only thing she speaks about is Jesus and that she’s passionate about him,” Murray said.

A childhood friend, Tina Manroe, 25, of Flint, said she’s confident Lenhart had no plans to harm anyone.

“I think that she was just there for the rally (and) she forgot to leave her gun,” Manroe said. “If you live in Flint, you want to have a gun. ... She always had it with her. She never goes without it.”

Neither Manroe nor Murray knew DeBois Lenhart was in the nation’s capital.

She was the second person arrested on firearms charges near the presidential residence in as many days.

On Wednesday, R.J. “Renae” Kapheim, 41, of Davenport, IA, was arrested after authorities found a rifle with a scope in his car near the White House. According to the Washington Post report, Kapheim walked up to a Secret Service officer and said the president had called him and asked for a meeting.

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