Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences of 10 to 15 years for James and Jennifer Crumbley, convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection to their son Ethan’s deadly school shooting in Michigan. The parents could face up to 15 years in prison per count, with four counts representing each student killed in the incident. The prosecution argues that the parents’ “gross negligence” irreversibly changed the entire community and that they could have prevented the shooting with simple actions, but failed to do so.
The Crumbleys are scheduled to be sentenced on April 9 in an Oakland County court, marking the first time they would potentially see each other since their trials were separated. The sentencing memo for James Crumbley highlights alleged threats he made against the prosecutor and an overall lack of remorse in jail calls. The prosecution argues for sentences beyond the advisory guideline range due to the severity of the parents’ actions leading up to the shooting and the impact on the victims’ families.
This case has been a landmark in the U.S., as it is the first instance where the parents of a school shooter have been held legally responsible for the tragedy. James and Jennifer Crumbley were not accused of having prior knowledge of the attack but rather failing to secure the gun their son used, which could have prevented the tragedy. Their sentencing will bring an end to a lengthy legal process that began when Ethan pleaded guilty as an adult and was sentenced to life in prison.
Following James Crumbley’s conviction, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald emphasized that the charges against the parents were based on evidence showing their failure to store the gun properly, thus enabling the school shooting. She hopes that these convictions will lead to increased awareness and responsibility to prevent gun violence in the future. The alleged threats made by James Crumbley in jail against the prosecutor reflect a lack of remorse and accountability on his part, according to statements from the prosecutor’s office.
The sentencing memos also detail James Crumbley’s belief that he was wrongly convicted and his desire for time served, showing a lack of genuine remorse from his end. The prosecutor’s office views this as a disregard for the victims and their families, emphasizing the severity of their actions in contributing to the tragic outcome. While it remains unclear if the parents will appeal their convictions, they have not commented on the sentencing memorandum released by the prosecutor.
The agreement with two Oxford school employees who testified against the parents, citing their testimonies in the building of the case against the Crumbleys, has also surfaced. The “proffer” letters signed in December 2021 allow witnesses to provide information without it being used against them in criminal proceedings. Despite claims of no immunity given to witnesses, the letters state that anything said in the proffer interviews cannot be used against school officials. Prosecutors maintain that there was not enough evidence to support criminal charges against anyone at the school, emphasizing the focus on the parents’ negligence in this tragic incident.
