Prosecutors stated on Wednesday their aim to urge a judge to convict the Crumbley parents, who were liable for their son's deadly school shooting, to serve between 10 to 15 years in prison each. These details were acquired from copies of prosecution memos collected by NBC News.
Prosecutors Request 10 to 15 Years Prison Sentence for Crumbleys
James and Jennifer Crumbley, both found liable for unintentional murder in different trials, could face up to 15 years in prison for each of the four counts, representing every student killed by their son, Ethan, in 2021.
According to Oakland County prosecutors in Michigan, felonies stemming from identical circumstances must run together, meaning the highest convict the judge can command is 15 years in total.
The prosecution disagreed in its sentencing memos to Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews that the parents' cases warranted sentences beyond the advisory guideline range.
They asserted that the parents' "gross negligence" irreversibly altered the community and that they could have prevented the shooting with simple actions but failed to act when faced with grave danger.
First Instance in US where Parents Are Legally Held Accountable
The Crumbleys are expected to be sentenced on April 9 in an Oakland County court. It's ambiguous if the convicting will be concurrent, but family members of the dead students are anticipated to deliver impact statements, and the court may choose to have the parents present together for logistical reasons.
This convicting marks the first time in the U.S. that parents of a shooter have been lawfully held accountable for a mass school gunfire committed by their child.
James Crumbley, 47, and Jennifer, who turned 46 on Monday, were convicted based on evidence that they negligently stored a handgun their son used in the attack, not for having prior knowledge of the incident.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald hopes this conviction will lead to increased efforts to prevent gun violence and encourage greater accountability.
James Crumbley allegedly made threats against McDonald from jail, which his lawyer disputes. The prosecution's sentencing memo highlighted these threats as evidence of a lack of remorse on his part. Recordings of his calls, provided by Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Mark Keast, captured explicit threats toward McDonald, indicating his awareness of being recorded.
Keast emphasized Crumbley's lack of remorse and shift of blame evident in these calls, arguing for a sentence exceeding recommended guidelines due to the severity of his actions.
During his pre-sentence interview, Crumbley maintained his innocence, expressing regret but denying knowledge of his son's motives. Keast also criticized the couple for downplaying their involvement and lying about alcohol consumption, citing evidence of excessive drinking following their son's friend's removal from his life.
The Crumbleys' lawyers have not determined whether they plan to petition the convictions. Meanwhile, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office discharged concurrence with two Oxford school employees who testified in the trials.
These concurrence, known as "proffer" letters, commonly grant privilege to witnesses in exchange for their participation. However, the prosecutor's office maintains that no privilege was offered to witnesses in this case.
Related Article: James Crumbley Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter for Son's Involvement in Oxford High School Shooting
