An Illinois father pleaded guilty on Monday to multiple counts of reckless conduct for helping his troubled underage son obtain a gun that the latter used to kill seven people at a Fourth of July parade in 2022.
Illinois Circuit Court Judge George Strickland sentenced Robert Crimo Jr. to two years of probation and 60 days in custody of the Lake County sheriff, as well as 100 hours of public service. The father of the accused shooter was also ordered to surrender his firearm owner identification card and any ammunition.
Misdemeanors? I wonder what the prosecutor's rationale is. Would it be so light if not for our sick country's ammosexuality?
Crimo Jr.'s lawyer told reporters outside the courtroom that his client had pleaded guilty to prevent his trial from becoming a "public spectacle" or jeopardizing his son's case by disclosing key evidence before the younger Crimo's trial.
What are they hiding?
"It appeared that, as we got closer to trial, the state's strategy required pitting Mr. Crimo's family against each other," said the attorney, George Gomez.
So??? Is the attorney oblivious to the precipitating event? Absent full and instant accountability this is a family that should be pitted against each other.
The case against Crimo Jr. marks at least the second time a parent in the United States has been prosecuted in connection with crimes allegedly committed by their child. Experts say the guilty plea could help expand the number of people held liable in future mass shootings.
Good.
In October, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the parents of a teenager who shot four classmates to death at a Detroit-area high school would stand trial for involuntary manslaughter for buying their son a firearm despite knowing he was mentally disturbed.
Good. This Detroit-area trial may bolster the son's insanity defense, not that I necessarily think that he's sane.
... A grand jury charged the elder Crimo in February with seven counts of reckless conduct for sponsoring his son's 2019 application for a firearm owner identification (FOID) card, despite knowing his son was unfit to own a gun.
Sounds like the elder Crimo plead to exactly what the grand jury charged him with, though that in turn may have been what the prosecutor requested. Whichever, perhaps the charging was too light, especially compared to the Detroit-area case.
... Local police received reports in September 2019 that the younger Crimo had allegedly directed threats to "kill everyone" at his family members, and searched his home.
They seized a collection of 16 knives, a dagger and a sword amassed by Crimo, though no arrest was made as authorities at the time lacked probable cause to take him into custody, authorities said.
Ugh, definitely a case for mandatory stronger gun laws that apply to abettors. Maybe removing some prosecutorial discretion is the answer. Has IL taken any action in the wake of the tragedy? Might they after this "slap on the wrist" verdict? Maybe write your reps and governor and ask/demand?
Impossible to keep up.
Thanks, Bozobert 
