Judge denies Oxford shooter's parent's request to attend sentencing

An Oakland County judge has denied the Oxford High School shooter's parents' request to attend their son's sentencing hearing in December.

James and Jennifer Crumbley, who are currently in the Oakland County Jail awaiting their own trial on involuntary manslaughter charges connected to the shooting, requested Thursday to attend the Dec. 8 sentencing. In their request, it notes that the hearing is of "paramount importance" and would be to any parent, regardless of what their child has done.

Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews denied the request Friday without a hearing. Matthews said the Crumbleys have not provided any legal authority to support their argument that the court should order the jail to transport them to the sentencing hearing.

The Crumbleys have had no contact with their son Ethan since their arrest in December 2021, their attorneys, Shannon Smith and Mariell Lehman wrote, and have kept track of his case through information from their attorneys, the news and family who have watched their son's court proceedings.

"Mr. and Mrs. Crumbley's concern for their son should be in no way perceived as 'selfish' or a lack of compassion and concern about what has happened to the shooter's victims, the community, and all who have been affected by the awful tragedy on November 30, 2021, although the prosecution's response to the previous request to attend the Miller hearing itself was met with those criticisms," Smith and Lehman wrote. "Clearly, this is the harshest sentence the Court could give to the shooter and worries both Mr. and Mrs. Crumbley considerably."

Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast wrote in his response that prosecutors object to the Crumbleys being given any preference over victims for being in the courtroom. He said their presence would distract from the victims who are giving impact statements.

Last time the Crumbleys made a similar request — to attend their son's Miller hearing, where Oakland County Judge Kwame Rowe heard evidence to determine if the teen could be sentenced to life without parole in prison — Matthews denied it without a hearing. She did not give a reason in that instance.

Smith and Lehman also asked that the Crumbleys be able to watch a livestream of the proceedings. Keast said the Prosecutor's Office did not oppose this request.

Matthews said the Crumbleys have not shown the jail is required to arrange a viewing of the livestream of the sentencing hearing. She left that up to the discretion of the Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard's office.

The shooter will be sentenced Dec. 8 after pleading guilty to one count of terrorism causing death, four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of attempted murder and 12 counts of using a gun during a felony. He can be sentenced to either life in prison without parole or a term of years.

The Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear the Crumbleys' appeal on the strength of their case and sent it back to the Oakland County Circuit Court. Their trial is set for Jan. 23.

The Crumbleys each face four involuntary manslaughter charges connected to the deaths of Oxford High students Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; and Justin Shilling, 17.

They face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.