The Albrightsville man who was charged in relation to the downtown State College riot in November pleaded guilty today to misdemeanor counts of failure to disperse and disorderly conduct and a summary count of dangerous burning.
Patrick McLaughlin, 45, pleaded Tuesday prior to his scheduled trial in front of senior Judge Charles C. Brown, according to a release issued by the Office of the District Attorney.
McLaughlin was captured on video at the riot on multiple occasions participating in the disorder. The riot occurred in downtown State College after the late former head football coach Joe Paterno was fired in wake of charges filed against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.The night of the riot, former President Graham Spanier was also removed from his position.
Sandusky was convicted on 45 counts of child sex abuse in June.
McLaughlin is caught on camera on several occasions being told to disperse from a crowd of people during the riot and refusing, arguing with police in some videos, according to the release. Also according to the release, McLaughlin was spotted on video near a news van that was tipped over and destroyed the night of the riot.
Police also obtained video of McLaughlin attempting to light a shirt on fire in a crowd of people, according to the release. McLaughlin admitted to police he attempted to light a shirt on fire.
Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller said according to the release that her office will be seeking jail time to be served.
"In these kinds of cases, if someone is setting things on fire downtown in a very crowded place, it is obvious they are only present to cause disorder and danger to our community," Parks Miller said.
McLaughlin will be sentenced September 11 before Brown.
