St. Louis couple charged for pulling guns at protest
Nation Jul 20, 2020 5:29 PM EDT
ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis’ top prosecutor told The Associated Press on Monday that she is charging a white husband and wife with felony unlawful use of a weapon for displaying guns during a racial injustice protest outside their mansion.
Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced the charges against Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who are both personal injury attorneys in their 60s. They also face a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree assault.
Gardner said in an interview with the AP ahead of more broadly announcing the charges that the McCloskeys’ actions risked creating a violent situation during an otherwise nonviolent protest.
“It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner — that is unlawful in the city of St. Louis,” Gardner said.
The attorney for the McCloskeys, Joel Schwartz, in a statement called the decision to charge “disheartening as I unequivocally believe no crime was committed.”
Gardner is recommending a diversion program such as community service rather than jail time if the McCloskeys are convicted. Typically, class E felonies could result in up to four years in prison.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/st-louis-couple-charged-for-pulling-guns-at-protest?fbclid=IwAR2o3QvpVuylHf6suXeNouYf9rQCGauLqrtAsbNiVclDY4b3k_Qg5cCBYlE
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