Highland Park Parade Shooter Signs 'Donald Trump' On Trial Waiver

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — After orally pleading guilty to the July 4, 2022, Highland Park parade shooting, defendant Robert Crimo III signed his trial waiver "Donald Trump," according to reports.

Experts say Crimo's guilty plea should still stand, regardless of whose name he signed.

“He can sign Mickey Mouse or Donald Trump,” Richard Kling, a law professor at Kent College of Law, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “If [the judge] asked the magic questions, and he gave the magic answers, the plea is guilty.”

However, Crimo's defense attorneys could use the erroneously signed document to argue the plea was not voluntary and make a move to vacate the plea.

A copy of the waiver provided to the Sun-Times shows Crimo's name printed twice at the top of the document, but the president's name is signed in cursive on the defendant line. The document was filed by the Lake County Public Defender office, dated Tuesday.

According to an Illinois criminal statute governing trial waivers, a defendant isn't required to sign their own name. The law only requires that the defendant show in court that they understand they are waving their trial, which Crimo did on Monday.

Following Monday's court proceedings, Crimo's mother Denise Pesina stormed out of the courtroom yelling "My son is innocent," according to WGN-TV.

"He has no free will to make his own choices, and he has never had any outside help. They regulate everything. He has been a prisoner, and this is wrong,” Pesina said.

Crimo's sentencing hearing is set for April 23.

Read more from the Chicago Sun-Times: Robert Crimo III signs trial waiver 'Donald Trump' after pleading guilty to Highland Park parade shooting