Police say a shirtless trespasser who claimed former President Donald Trump had “gifted” him a mansion was arrested on May 22 after allegedly moving into a multimillion-dollar estate in Palm Beach. Officers identified the man as 26-year-old Kellen White, who was booked on charges that include burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and petit theft. The homeowner is described as a prominent tech entrepreneur whose work includes co-inventing the optical computer mouse.
According to WPEC/CBS12, a landscaper working at the home spotted a shirtless man walking down the driveway and called the owner, who confirmed the stranger was not supposed to be there. Palm Beach officers showed up, checked the property, and say they caught White walking out through a south-side sliding-glass door. Body-camera video shows officers reading him his Miranda rights.
Police told reporters that White first claimed he had bought the entire estate for cash and had the keys in his pocket. He then changed his story, officers say, insisting that the federal government had purchased the property for him and that “Trump” and other officials had told him he could go inside, again according to WPEC/CBS12. Officers checked the keys and reported that they did not open any exterior doors.
What Police Say They Found Inside
During a walkthrough of the home, officers say they discovered an unmade bed in the master suite, along with a backpack of clothing and a wallet containing a U.S. Air Force ID on a nightstand. Investigators also noted a gray article of clothing on the bathroom floor with the shower door wide open, and the doors to the wine cellar left ajar.
White admitted he had used the master shower and had been swimming in the pool earlier that morning, according to the police report. He also acknowledged that the keys in his pocket had been taken from the homeowners’ private wine cellar.
Charges And Legal Exposure
White faces counts of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and petit theft. Under Florida law, those offenses can be treated as either felonies or misdemeanors, depending on the specific circumstances. Burglary is defined in state law, see Florida Senate, and can bring felony penalties.
Petit theft is covered in Florida’s theft statute, see Justia, which lays out different penalty tiers based on the value involved and any prior convictions. Under Florida’s penalty framework, a second-degree felony can carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, see Florida Senate.
White was booked into the local jail and remained in custody pending action by the state attorney’s office. Officials have not released the homeowner’s name, and police did not immediately offer further comment beyond what appears in the arrest report.
