White House fence jumper released; must live with mom in Conn., stay out of D.C.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A college student who jumped over the White House fence while draped in an American flag was released from custody on Monday, and his attorney said he hoped to resolve the case without going to trial.

Joseph Caputo, 22, of Stamford, Connecticut, pleaded innocent to a misdemeanor charge of illegal entry onto restricted grounds, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison. Federal prosecutors agreed to Caputo's release from custody, with restrictions. A judge ordered him to submit to electronic monitoring, live with his mother and observe an 8 p.m. curfew.

Caputo's actions on Thursday prompted a lockdown of the White House grounds while President Barack Obama was celebrating Thanksgiving with his family. He was the first person to scale the White House fence since the Secret Service installed metal spikes atop the structure in response to a series of security breaches, including a man armed with a knife who got deep inside the executive mansion before he was arrested.

More