Father of Accused Highland Park Shooter Agrees to Plea Deal
In a surprising turn of events, Robert Crimo Jr., the father of the accused Highland Park shooter, has agreed to a plea deal just as his trial was set to begin. Crimo pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct and has been sentenced to a 60-day jail term. In addition to serving time behind bars, he will also be on probation for two years and will have to complete 100 hours of community service.
As part of the plea deal, Crimo must surrender his Firearm Ownership Identification (FOID) card as well as any weapons he may own. Furthermore, he has also agreed not to sponsor any minors for FOID cards in the future. This decision comes after Lake County prosecutors argued that Crimo knew his son had “violent ideations” before signing his FOID card application.
This case has set a precedent for holding parents accountable for allowing their children access to guns, according to Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart. The prosecution planned to call witnesses who would testify that Crimo Jr. was fully aware of his son’s past threats, including suicidal text messages and even threats to commit a mass shooting.
With Crimo Jr.’s plea deal now finalized, he is expected to surrender to the Lake County Jail on November 15. Meanwhile, the murder trial of Crimo III, his son, is set to take place in December. Crimo III has been indicted on a total of 117 counts, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, and aggravated battery.
The outcome of this case has generated significant interest in the community, raising important questions about gun access and parental responsibility. As the trial of Crimo III approaches, it remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed in the courtroom. Heartland Magazine will continue to closely follow this case and provide updates as additional information becomes available.
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