Blogger Who Broadcast Police Standoff Pleads Guilty

Frank MacArthur, aka Baltimore Spectator, the blogger who live streamed his standoff with police from inside his Waverly home last December, pleaded guilty to possession of a sawed off shotgun in Baltimore City Circuit Court Wednesday.

Mark Cheshire, a spokesman for the Baltimore City State's Attorney's office, said prosecutors were seeking a five year sentence, but MacArthur was sentenced to three years with all but six months suspended. MacArthur, who has been held without bail since his arrest, will receive credit for time served.

The issues with MacArthur, 47, started last fall when a warrant was issued for allegedly violating his probation on a previous charge. But he maintained that he was finished probation and could not have violated the terms of his release.

He also took to social media sites, his blog and Internet radio show to accuse the police of persecuting him because of reporting critical of the Baltimore City Police.

On Dec.1, officers went to MacArthur's residence in Waverly to take him into custody. He refused to answer the door and began posting messages on Twitter that police say prompted them to call in a SWAT team and to surround the home.

During this time, MacArthur was broadcasting via the website www.spreaker.com and provided a running commentary through Twitter. Eventually a police negotiator called MacArthur and their conversation was broadcast.

After more than a four hour standoff, MacArthur agreed to surrender to police. Following his arrest, police allegedly found a sawed off shotgun in the home, and MacArthur was denied bail.