In a recent development, Robert E. Crimo Jr., the father of the Highland Park parade shooting suspect, has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of reckless conduct. As a result, he has been sentenced to 60 days in jail. The plea was made in an effort to avoid jeopardizing his son's right to a fair trial, according to his lawyer.

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart has expressed that this guilty plea will serve as a guiding light for prosecutors across the nation, emphasizing the need to hold parents accountable for the actions of their children. It is rare for prosecutors to charge parents of accused mass shooters, making the case against Crimo Jr. unprecedented.

Prosecutors alleged that Crimo Jr. recklessly signed the gun ownership card application for his son in 2019 when he was underage. Despite being aware of his son's past threat of a mass shooting, Crimo Jr. went ahead and signed the application. Tragically, his son went on to allegedly open fire from a rooftop on July 4, 2022, resulting in the death of seven individuals and the injury of 48 others.

Crimo Jr. managed to avoid a potential three-year sentence by accepting a last-minute plea deal. In addition to the 60-day jail term, the deal includes a two-year probation period, 100 hours of community service, and the surrender of his gun ownership card and any weapons.

Judge George Strickland presided over the case and accepted the plea deal for the lesser charges against Crimo Jr. This decision spares the public from a potentially grueling trial and will help facilitate a fair trial for his incarcerated son, who is currently facing 117 felony counts related to the massacre.

Crimo Jr.'s attorney, George Gomez, spoke to reporters and reiterated the decision to accept the plea deal was in the interest of protecting his son's right to a fair trial and ensuring that potentially damaging evidence would not be disclosed to the public.

Lake County State's Attorney Rinehart expressed satisfaction with the plea deal, stating that many of the victims he spoke with were content with the 60-day jail sentence given to Crimo Jr. He emphasized the importance of holding parents accountable and viewed the incarceration and probation as significant steps in achieving justice.

While the trial date for the accused shooter, Robert Crimo III, has yet to be set, this plea deal marks an important milestone towards shedding light on the tragedy that occurred during the Highland Park parade. The guilty plea by Crimo Jr. serves as a reminder that individuals must face the consequences of their actions, particularly when it comes to the devastating impact of mass shootings.