Lake County Gazette

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart has accepted a plea deal in the case against Robert Crimo Jr., who was charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct in connection to the Highland Park shooting. Crimo Jr. sponsored his son’s Firearm Owner Identification Card, allowing Robert Crimo III to allegedly open fire on a 4th of July parade, resulting in seven deaths and 48 injuries.

Despite a history of violent threats and mental instability, Crimo Jr. insists he did “nothing wrong” in sponsoring his son’s gun ownership application. The plea deal, which includes 60 days in Lake County Jail and two years of probation, has sparked controversy, with critics questioning Rinehart’s earlier decision to file felony charges. In response, Lake County State’s Attorney candidate Mary Coles alleges that Rinehart’s press conference announcing felony charges was politically motivated. She argues that if Rinehart had sufficient evidence, he should have taken the case to trial while accepting a plea deal suggests a lack of confidence in the case’s strength.

“If he ethically had probable cause to prove Mr. Crimo was guilty of felony reckless conduct like he charged, he should have been a prosecutor and taken the case to trial,” Coles said in a press release.“And, if he was concerned his probable cause wasn’t strong enough, he should have only charged Mr. Crimo  with misdemeanors in the first place.”

Coles said it was obvious Crimo Jr. was guilty of criminal misconduct in the case.

“If he called that news conference to announce he filed felony charges, but never had probable cause to do so, he didn’t just violate his oath of office but also used this tragedy for his own political gain, so shame on him,” Coles said. “But, if he had probable cause that a felony was committed then chose to accept the plea deal instead, he’s exactly what the entire county knows he is - a defense attorney, not a prosecutor.”

The ongoing legal and political fallout raises questions about the state’s role in evaluating firearm permit applications, shedding light on the complexities between legal responsibility, political considerations, and the tragic consequences of such events as seen in Highland Park. Particular attention is drawn towards Illinois State Police issuing a gun permit to Crimo III despite clear indications of mental illness and violence on his record.

State Sen. Donald DeWitte (R-St. Charles) is among critics blaming Pritzker's administration for failing to review and enforce existing laws that could have potentially prevented this tragic incident at Highland Park. 

"Had the Pritzker administration done what they said they were going to do, which was to review and make sure laws already on the books were being implemented more effectively, the tragedy in Highland Park might never have occurred," DeWitte claimed.

Illinois law requires parental consent for firearm ownership by individuals under 21, and despite knowing about his son’s disturbing intentions, Crimo Jr. insists he did “nothing wrong.”

The New York Post Editorial Board posits moral culpability lies in Crimo Jr.’s decision to facilitate his son’s access to weapons rather than preventing it, raising questions about the state’s role in evaluating firearm permit applications.

Crimo Jr.'s plea deal entailed him pleading guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct with prosecutors. Starting from Nov. 15, rather than facing felony charges, he will serve 60 days in Lake County Jail followed by a probation period lasting two years.

In response to the shooting event at Highland Park Democrats introduced a gun ban prohibiting over 170 semi-automatic firearms. The ban also restricts the sale and possession of magazines exceeding certain capacities. Supporters argue that the law is a necessary measure to control the spread of such firearms, while opponents assert it infringes on the Second Amendment by banning commonly owned firearms.