McCloskeys make first court appearance in St. Louis gun case
ST. LOUIS, Mo. _ Mark and Patricia McCloskey made their first appearance in a St. Louis courtroom Monday after being charged last month with brandishing guns at protesters outside the couple's Portland Place home in June.
The St. Louis couple, who gained national attention even before they were featured last week at the Republican National Convention, had their first court appearance before Associate Circuit Judge Craig Higgins.
The McCloskeys were charged with one felony count each of unlawful use of a weapon _ exhibiting.
Their hearings Monday were postponed until Oct. 6. The cases are expected to be heard by a St. Louis grand jury that will decide whether there is sufficient probable cause for an indictment. Most cases in St. Louis Circuit Court go to a grand jury instead of a preliminary hearing.
Charging documents state that Mark McCloskey, 63, pointed an AR-15 rifle at protesters and Patricia McCloskey, 61, wielded a semiautomatic handgun, placing protesters in fear of injury, authorities have said.
Charges said investigators conducted "numerous" witness interviews and relied on video footage and the McCloskeys' own statements about the June 28 incident.
_ St. Louis Post-Dispatch
