Grand Jury indicts McCloskeys, St. Louis couple who defended home amid demonstrations

St. Louis couple Mark and Patricia McCloskey, have been indicted by a Grand Jury seated by St. Louis Circuit Prosecutor Kim Gardner's office, in connection with them defending their home this summer amid Black Lives Matter protests. 

Al Watkins, an attorney for the couple, confirmed to the Associated Press the indictments against Mark McCloskey, 63, and Patricia McCloskey, 61. A spokeswoman for Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner declined comment.

Joel Schwartz, a McCloskey attorney, told Just the News on Tuesday night that the indictment is called a "suppressed" indictment and that he's unaware of what it states.

"I am told by sources that this is a suppressed indictment, which makes no sense to me. We had a hearing this morning in court. The hearing was cancelled. Then I was contacted by sources, who learned my clients were indicted. I reached out to the Circuit Attorney's office. I have yet to received a response," said Joel Schwartz to Just the News.

Schwartz represents the couple in the criminal case, and Watkins represents the couple in a related civil case. 

Gardner, a Democrat, charged the McCloskeys with "flourishing" a weapon in connection with the June 28 incident in which social justice protesters entered the couple's private, gated community during a demonstration and marched past their home. 

The McCloskeys have said they each went outside with a gun because they feared for the safety of themselves and their home.

Missouri GOP Gov. Mike Parson said in July that he was prepared to exercise his pardon powers if prosecutors bring criminal charges in the case.

As previously reported by Just the News, Gardner's campaigns have received tens of thousands of dollars from a political action committee financed by billionaire political philanthropist George Soros. 

Gardiner has had several controversies since she assumed office.

In January 2017, she opened a criminal investigation into the then-Missouri GOP Gov. Eric Greitens. Several months later, she was forced to drop the charges for lack of evidence. In the aftermath, the out-of-state former FBI agent she hired to conduct the Greitens probe has been indicted on seven felony counts counts in connection with perjury and evidence tampering.