By ED WHITE (Associated Press)
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — In Michigan, prosecutors are advising that the two parents, who are the first in the U.S. to be held criminally accountable for a school shooting, should face a minimum of 10 years in prison next week.
According to a court filing on Wednesday, prosecutors stated that Jennifer Crumbley displayed a disturbing lack of regret for her involvement, and James Crumbley failed to take even the most basic care that could have prevented the deaths of four students at Oxford High School in 2021.
The Crumbleys, the parents of the shooter Ethan Crumbley, were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials earlier this year. They were not charged with knowing their son's plan, but prosecutors said they neglected to secure a gun at home and overlooked his mental health.
The maximum prison term for the crime is 15 years. However, the minimum sentence set by the judge on April 9 will be crucial as the Crumbleys would be eligible for parole consideration after that time. They will receive credit for approximately 2 1/2 years spent in the Oakland County jail since their arrest.
Defense lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.
Prosecutors revealed in their filing that 46-year-old Jennifer Crumbley is seeking to avoid prison and instead be placed under electronic monitoring and live with her lawyer, Shannon Smith. They also mentioned that 47-year-old James Crumbley is hoping to be released.
Assistant prosecutor Marc Keast criticized the proposed sentence as a disrespect to the seriousness of the tragedy caused by Jennifer Crumbley's extreme negligence, the victims, and their families.
On the day of the shooting, the Crumbleys visited the school to discuss Ethan's disturbing drawing, but instead of taking him home, they left with a list of contacts for mental health services and went back to work. A few hours later, the 15-year-old Ethan pulled out a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun from his backpack and started shooting.
Even though the school staff did not insist on Ethan's removal from school, they were unaware that James Crumbley had bought the gun just four days earlier and that it resembled the one in the drawing, as per trial testimony.
Ethan, who is 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, the judge prohibited his use of a phone and tablet in jail. The sheriff's department, which operates the jail, stated that he had been making threats, although no specifics were disclosed at the time.
In his court filing, Keast stated that there were five instances of profanity-laced threats directed at Karen McDonald, the county prosecutor. He provided five examples.
On January 3, he said, "I am … on a rampage, Karen. Yes, Karen McDonald. You better be … scared," according to Keast.
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Prosecutors in Michigan are recommending at least 10 years in prison for two parents who are the first in the U.S. to be held criminally responsible for a school shooting. Jennifer and James Crumbley will return to court on April 9, weeks after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter. They were accused of failing to take steps that could have prevented their son, Ethan, from shooting up Oxford High School and killing four students. Prosecutors said Ethan wanted help for his mental health but his parents ignored him. They were also accused of failing to safely secure a gun at home.
