November trial set for father of suspect in lethal July 4 parade taking pictures in suburban Chicago

CHICAGO – An Illinois choose on Friday set a Nov. 6 trial date for a father charged with serving to his son acquire a gun license three years earlier than the son allegedly shot lifeless seven individuals at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago final 12 months.

The daddy, Robert Crimo Jr., instructed Choose George Strickland at a listening to in Waukegan — north of Highland Park, the place the taking pictures occurred — that he was waiving his proper to a jury trial. Which means Strickland will hear proof and situation verdicts on the finish of the bench trial.

Earlier this 12 months, Crimo Jr. pleaded not responsible to seven counts of reckless conduct — one rely for every particular person killed. Every rely carries a most 3-year jail time period.

The choose Friday additionally set an Aug. 7 listening to for arguments on a protection movement difficult the constitutionality of legal guidelines that underpin fees in opposition to the daddy. Choose Strickland may even take into account a media request that the trial be streamed stay at an Aug. 28 listening to.

Prosecutors have mentioned the daddy helped his son, Robert Crimo III, acquire a gun license years earlier than the taking pictures, despite the fact that the then-19-year-old had threatened violence.

A grand jury indicted the son final 12 months on 21 first-degree homicide counts, 48 counts of tried homicide and 48 counts of aggravated battery, representing the seven individuals killed and dozens wounded within the assault. Potential proof is voluminous within the son’s case and no trial date has been set.

Robert Crimo Jr. has proven up at a number of of his son’s pretrial hearings. The daddy is a well-known face round Highland Park, the place he was as soon as a mayoral candidate and operated comfort shops. He was launched on a $50,000 bond after his December arrest.

Lake County State’s Legal professional Eric Rinehart mentioned after the daddy’s arrest that the accusations in opposition to the daddy are primarily based on his sponsorship of his son’s software for a gun license in December 2019. Authorities say Robert Crimo III tried suicide by machete in April 2019 and in September 2019 was accused by a member of the family of constructing threats to “kill everyone.”

George M. Gomez, the daddy’s Chicago-area legal professional, has beforehand known as the accusations in opposition to his consumer “baseless and unprecedented.”

Authorized specialists have mentioned it is uncommon for an accused shooter’s guardian or guardian to face fees — partly as a result of it is tough to show such fees.