FOLLOW US

Parents of Oxford shooter, James, and Jennifer Crumbley are each facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter charges. The prosecution is charging their son Ethan with first-degree murder and terrorism for the Oxford High School shootings. The mass shooting left four students dead and wounded seven others.

If convicted of involuntary manslaughter each charge has a penalty of up to 15 years in prison. 

Prosecutors claim that James and Jennifer Crumbley bought the gun for Ethan days before he used it for the shooting. And then they did not properly secure it. 

If the Crumbleys can’t get their $50,000 bonds reduced they may spend the holidays in jail. A bond hearing is set for January 7th.

Parents of Oxford shooter appear in court

Judge Julie Nicholson in Rochester presided over the probable cause conference held Tuesday at District Court in Rochester. The couple agreed to share lawyers, Shannon Smith, and Mariell Lehman. The defense says they plan to file next week for bond reduction.

The Crumbleys were separated by their attorneys. But they glanced at each other often.

The couple was shackled on their hands and their feet. They did not talk much. But they also agreed to postpone their preliminary hearing.

Prelim was moved to Feb. 8 since the defense and the prosecutor both need additional time to sort through all the discovery of evidence.

The parents of Oxford shooter and Ethan are all incarcerated in the Oakland County Jail. They are not allowed any communication with each other.

Ethan Crumbley to stay in an adult facility

The day before his parents' hearing Ethan's attorney requested the judge move him to a  juvenile facility.

The high schooler is accused of fatally shooting Hana St. Juliana, 14; Tate Myre, 16; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; and Justin Shilling, 17. 

"This is someone who has never been in trouble before. This is not someone who has a history of assaulting kids, or any other negative contact with his peers. This one isolated incident is all that we are looking at here today," attorney Paulette Loftin argued on Monday.

The defense also argued that Ethan could hear the voices of adult inmates. And if true it is a federal statute violation. Minors staying in adult jails are supposed to be housed separately. They should not see or hear any adult inmates.

Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast vehemently disagreed. "Calling this an isolated incident, frankly, does not do it justice. This was a mass murder at a school judge. It was planned. It was premeditated," he added.

The judge ruled that due to the extreme circumstances of the crimes Ethan Crumbley will remain in the county jail.

The prosecution assured the judge that more effort would be made by jail officials so the teenager cannot see or hear adult inmates.

Both parents and their son have pleaded not guilty.