By ED WHITE (Associated Press)
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — Prosecutors in Michigan are urging that a minimum of 10 years in prison be considered for two parents who are the first in the U.S. to be criminally responsible for a school shooting.
According to a court filing on Wednesday, Jennifer Crumbley displayed an alarming lack of regret for her actions, while James Crumbley neglected to take even the smallest steps to prevent the deaths of four students at Oxford High School in 2021.
The Crumbleys, parents of the shooter Ethan Crumbley, were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials earlier this year. They were not accused of being aware of their son’s plan, but prosecutors stated that they did not secure a gun at home and disregarded his mental health.
The maximum sentence for the crime is 15 years. However, the judge's decision on April 9 will be crucial, as the Crumbleys could be eligible for parole consideration after that period. They will receive credit for approximately 2 1/2 years spent in the Oakland County jail since their arrest.
Efforts to obtain a response from defense attorneys on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
In their filing, prosecutors revealed that Jennifer Crumbley, 46, is seeking to avoid prison and instead be placed under electronic monitoring and live with her attorney, Shannon Smith. They also mentioned that James Crumbley, 47, also hopes to be released.
Assistant prosecutor Marc Keast criticized Jennifer Crumbley’s proposed sentence as disrespectful to the severity of the tragedy caused by her extreme negligence, the victims, and their families.
On the day of the shooting, the Crumbleys went to the school to discuss Ethan’s disturbing drawing of a gun, a bullet, a wounded figure, and phrases such as, “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me.”
Instead of taking their son home, the Crumbleys left with a list of contacts for mental health services and returned to work. A few hours later, Ethan, who was 15 at the time, retrieved a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun from his backpack and began shooting.
School staff did not insist on Ethan’s removal from school, but they were unaware that James Crumbley had purchased the gun just four days earlier and that it resembled the one in the drawing, as per trial testimony.
Ethan, now 17, is currently serving a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to murder and terrorism.
During James Crumbley’s trial, he was prohibited from using a phone and tablet while in jail by the judge. The sheriff’s department, which runs the jail, stated that he had been making threats, although the specifics were not disclosed publicly at the time.
In his court filing, Keast stated that James Crumbley directed profanity-laden threats at Karen McDonald, the elected county prosecutor. He provided five examples.
“I am … on a rampage, Karen. Yes, Karen McDonald. You better be … scared,” he said on Jan. 3, as per Keast.
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