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| St. Louis couple charged over confronting Black Lives Matter protesters plead guilty, forfeit guns | St. Louis couple charged over confronting Black Lives Matter protesters plead guilty, forfeit guns |
| (2 months later) | |
| Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis, Missouri couple filmed brandishing a rifle and a handgun at angry protesters that broke into their gated community last June, have agreed to pay fines and forfeit their weapons. | Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis, Missouri couple filmed brandishing a rifle and a handgun at angry protesters that broke into their gated community last June, have agreed to pay fines and forfeit their weapons. |
| On Thursday, Patricia McCloskey pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment and was given the maximum fine of $2,000. Her husband Mark pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and accepted the $750 fine. The handgun and the rifle that were seized from them will be destroyed, local media reported. | On Thursday, Patricia McCloskey pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment and was given the maximum fine of $2,000. Her husband Mark pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and accepted the $750 fine. The handgun and the rifle that were seized from them will be destroyed, local media reported. |
| The McCloskeys became internet-famous in late June 2020, when they were filmed confronting an angry crowd of Black Lives Matter demonstrators that had broken through a gate outside their home. At the time, St. Louis was engulfed in riots that had spread from Minneapolis, following the death of George Floyd during a botched police arrest four weeks prior. | The McCloskeys became internet-famous in late June 2020, when they were filmed confronting an angry crowd of Black Lives Matter demonstrators that had broken through a gate outside their home. At the time, St. Louis was engulfed in riots that had spread from Minneapolis, following the death of George Floyd during a botched police arrest four weeks prior. |
| Demonstrators said they were peaceful and on their way to the mayor’s house when the McCloskeys threatened them with guns. | Demonstrators said they were peaceful and on their way to the mayor’s house when the McCloskeys threatened them with guns. |
| The couple, both lawyers in their early 60s, said they felt threatened after protesters broke down the iron gate to the private community and ignored no-trespassing signs. | The couple, both lawyers in their early 60s, said they felt threatened after protesters broke down the iron gate to the private community and ignored no-trespassing signs. |
| In July 2020, Missouri Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner charged the couple with felony unlawful use of a weapon and misdemeanor assault. Gardner, a Democrat, was eventually reassigned from the case, after a judge ruled that she created an appearance of impropriety by sending fundraising emails referring to the case in her re-election campaign. | In July 2020, Missouri Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner charged the couple with felony unlawful use of a weapon and misdemeanor assault. Gardner, a Democrat, was eventually reassigned from the case, after a judge ruled that she created an appearance of impropriety by sending fundraising emails referring to the case in her re-election campaign. |
| Another wrinkle in the case came as a prosecution document obtained by local media showed that Patricia McCloskey’s gun was inoperable when seized, but was reassembled by Gardner’s office to make it functional. | Another wrinkle in the case came as a prosecution document obtained by local media showed that Patricia McCloskey’s gun was inoperable when seized, but was reassembled by Gardner’s office to make it functional. |
| While Gardner went on to win her re-election bid, the case was assigned to former US attorney Richard Callahan, who amended the charges last month to misdemeanor assault and harassment, respectively. | While Gardner went on to win her re-election bid, the case was assigned to former US attorney Richard Callahan, who amended the charges last month to misdemeanor assault and harassment, respectively. |
| The couple have given no explanation as to why they pleaded guilty to lesser charges, but local media noted that a misdemeanor plea would not interfere with Mark McCloskey’s campaign for the US Senate seat that will open up in 2022, with the retirement of Senator Roy Blunt, a fellow Republican. | The couple have given no explanation as to why they pleaded guilty to lesser charges, but local media noted that a misdemeanor plea would not interfere with Mark McCloskey’s campaign for the US Senate seat that will open up in 2022, with the retirement of Senator Roy Blunt, a fellow Republican. |
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