WAUKEGAN, Ill. — The man accused of firing an assault rifle into crowds at a July Fourth parade in suburban Chicago last year, killing seven people, said Monday that he plans to represent himself at his trial, which is set to start in February.
Robert E. Crimo III, wearing a red shirt and red handcuffs, appeared in a Lake County courtroom, but did not explain why he wants to represent himself. He is facing 117 charges, including 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery, in connection with the shooting in Highland Park.
Judge Victoria Rossetti made it clear that Crimo, 23, would be responsible for filing all of his own motions and would not be getting any special treatment in jail for representing himself.
FTA:
“After the attack, prosecutors said that Crimo confessed in detail to the shooting and revealed that he had considered a second attack in Wisconsin.”
So, realistically, it doesn’t matter if he represents himself or not…
With that kind of stupid confession, he’s probably better off taking a plea deal. But, at the same time, he has a fool for his legal representation, so he probably won’t.
If they have a confession, why would they bother offering a plea deal? It’s an open and shut case, especially if he’s going to represent himself. Any plea deal would still most likely result in him dying in prison.
I was trying to put a spin on the old saying of “a lawyer representing himself has a fool for a client,” but you make a very good point. He’s screwed either way.
If he had a competent lawyer, the lawyer would likely get him a plea deal for a slightly less bad prison. Every judge and prosecutor prefers avoiding court and will give out minor incentives for letting them do so.
His Dad endorsed him for the gun
Crimo Jr. is expected to be released from jail on Dec 13, per the Lake County sheriff’s office, after reducing his 60-day sentence by receiving day-for-day credit for good behavior. When he turned himself in at the start of his sentence in mid-November, he was wearing a shirt that said, “I am a political pawn.”
He sounds like a tool, too
He got off lightly considering he did so “despite previous threats by his son to harm himself and loved ones”.
Of course it’s rare for “responsible gun owners” to be held accountable when a family member uses their unsecured firearm to kill as many people as they can, so being punished at all is a start.
I suspect for many of these parents, they’re just thrilled to see their right-wing opinions are blooming in their child.
Maybe he figured out that he’s actually being tried in an admiralty court, or that the state is trying his person and not his individuality. That happens a lot, I hear. Most people just don’t realize it.
Regardless, this should make for a nice open and shut case.
This should go well. /s
ironically, yes
He probably thinks this will be an opportunity to disseminate his super smart, totally original political philosophy. In reality, the judge is going to tell him to shut the fuck up in, what I like to call, “office speech” and he’ll just make the trial that much faster.
“Ya carnt convict me, I’m a Sovareen citizen!”
With a surname like crime-o he’s obviously guilty anyway.
