By SAXON DAUGHERTY
Staff writer
A Cooksburg man who engaged in an armed standoff with police in March 2016 at MacBeth’s Cabins on Route 36 in Cook Forest was sentenced this week to serve up to 16 years in state prison.
Jefferson County President Judge John Foradora imposed the sentence, which includes a minimum of eight years behind bars, against 48-year-old John MacBeth.
Foradora also ordered MacBeth to pay $3,400 in fines and $4,628.14 in restitution.
John MacBeth
MacBeth pleaded guilty in January to 32 counts of recklessly endangering another person, all second-degree misdemeanors.
As part of the plea agreement, 30 first-degree felony counts of criminal attempt-murder, 30 first-degree felony counts of aggravated assault and 60 second-degree felony counts of aggravated assault were dismissed.
MacBeth surrendered to authorities at about 10:20 a.m. on March 13, 2016, after keeping police at bay by firing at them from an apartment atop the store at MacBeth’s Cabins.
The incident started on the morning of March 12 when Clarion County 911 received a call about a drunken man barricaded in a room with a gun.
Law enforcement from all over western Pennsylvania arrived and cordoned off a wide perimeter to keep people out of Cook Forest.
MacBeth refused to speak with troopers and would not leave the home, so an arrest warrant was obtained. When the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team arrived, they tried to serve the warrant to MacBeth, who fired at them.
Throughout the day on March 12, the standoff continued and included a number of firefights. Police also shot in tear gas and stun grenades.
No officers were injured during the incident.
