Bob Crimo Pleads Not Guilty To 7 Counts Of Reckless Conduct Over FOID

WAUKEGAN, IL — The father of the accused Highland Park parade mass shooter pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that he recklessly helped his son acquire a gun license years before the July 4, 2022, shooting that left seven dead and nearly 50 others wounded.

Robert "Bob" Crimo Jr. was indicted by a grand jury Wednesday on seven counts of reckless conduct. His attorney has previously described the charges as "absurd" and "politically motivated."

Reckless conduct, a class 4 felony for which a conviction can be punished by up three years in prison, is defined under state law as when someone "by any means lawful or unlawful, recklessly performs an act or acts" that endangers or harms another person.

Prosecutors first filed charges against him in December, on the eve of the three-year anniversary of the day he signed off on his son's application for a firearm owners identification, or FOID, card. (Three years is the statute of limitations for more felonies.)

Crimo's son, who was 19 years old at the time, needed a parent or guardian's signature in order to apply for a FOID card with the Illinois State Police.

State police reviewed the application and found no grounds to deny it, despite a "clear and present danger" report filed by Highland Park police several months earlier.

In a statement released following the indictment, Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart, a Highland Park Democrat, invoked terminology used by supporters of bans on semiautomatic rifles, like the one allegedly used by Crimo's son.

"Parents who are reckless when they help their kids get weapons of war are morally and legally responsible for the harm that follows," Rinehart said.

"We presented our evidence to a grand jury, and they agreed the case should move forward," he added. "We will continue to seek justice for the victims and prosecute those who endanger the community."

Crimo is out on bail after posting the $5,000 cash portion of his bond last year. His son has been ordered held without bond at the Lake County Jail, where he awaits trial on 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.

The 117 felony counts correspond to three murder counts for each of the seven people fatally shot — Katie Goldstein, Irina and Kevin McCarthy, Stephen Straus, Jacki Sundheim, Nicholas Toledo and Eduardo Uvaldo — as well as one count each of attempt murder and aggravated battery for each of 48 people wounded.

The elder Crimo, a former candidate for Highland Park mayor and convenience store owner, has been in attendance for his son's pretrial court hearings. Prior to his arrest on the reckless conduct charges, he said did not regret sponsoring his son's FOID card and downplayed reports of violent threats his son allegedly made before he legally acquired five guns in the summer of 2020.

Crimo is due back in court April 4 before Associate Judge George Strickland. His son is due back in court May 9 before Circuit Judge Victoria Rossetti.

Read more:

• Accused Highland Park Parade Shooter's Father Yet To Be Indicted
• Bob Crimo, Father Of Accused Highland Park Mass Shooter, Faces Charges
• Highland Park Shooting Defendant's Dad Doesn't Regret Sponsoring FOID
• Evidence Was Insufficient To Deny FOID Card To Crimo, State Police Say