St. Louis couple charged after waving guns appear in court

Updated: Aug 31, 2020 / 06:21 PM CDT

In this image from video, Mark and Patricia McCloskey speak from St. Louis, during the first night of the Republican National Convention Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. (Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via AP)

ST. LOUIS (NewsNation) —The attorney for a St. Louis couple charged for waving guns during a racial injustice protest outside their home said Monday that they’re anxious to prove “with absolute certainty” that they did not commit a crime.

One week after Mark and Patricia McCloskey spoke on video to the Republican National Convention, they were in court briefly Monday morning and did not enter a plea. The judge continued their case until Oct. 6.

The couple emerged from their Renaissance palazzo-style mansion with guns on the night of June 28 after protesters veered onto their private street. The couple said the demonstrators knocked down an iron gate and ignored a “No Trespassing” sign, and they felt threatened.

The protesters said they were on their way to Mayor Lyda Krewson’s house, NewsNation affiliate KTVI reported.

Mark McCloskey, 63, came out with AR-15 rifle, according to court records, which said Patricia McCloskey, 61, displayed a semiautomatic handgun. No shots were fired.

Democratic St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner filed the unlawful use of a weapon charges in July, saying it’s “illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner at those participating in nonviolent protest.” Gardner said the guns created the risk of bloodshed.

The McCloskeys did not speak to reporters after the court hearing. Their attorney, Joel Schwartz, reiterated their claims that no laws were broken.

“We are simply anxious to remove all the noise from this case, move the case forward, and have the facts heard by a jury and let the jury decide whether or not the McCloskeys committed any felony offenses because we are convinced with absolute certainty that there was no felony committed here,” Schwartz said.

Missouri law allows homeowners to use force, even lethal force, to defend their homes. The McCloskeys drew support from Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and other leading Republicans.

The case even drew the attention of President Donald Trump, who considered the charges an “egregious abuse of power,” according to his press secretary.

Last week, the McCloskeys, who are both attorneys, made the case in an opening night speech of the Republican National Convention that they had a “God-given right” to defend themselves and their property.

A spokesperson for the circuit attorney said the office had no comment beyond just that the McCloskeys made their initial court appearance today and the case was continued until October 6.

The Associated Press and NewsNation affiliate KTVI contributed to this report.