Lawyer for Ethan Crumbley wants alleged school shooter moved to juvenile prison
The lawyer for Ethan Crumbley wants the alleged school shooter moved to a juvenile prison where he would be able to continue his schooling.
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Accused Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley was back in court on Monday local time – and his lawyer made the audacious request to move him to a juvenile facility where he would be able to continue his schooling.
That request was later rejected, the New York Post reports.
The 15-year-old – who’s charged with killing four children and injuring seven other people in the November 30 attack – appeared remotely by video and was seen sitting in front of a white brick wall wearing orange prison clothes, glasses and a mask.
He is facing four counts of first-degree murder, one count of terrorism and seven counts of assault with intent to kill.
Crumbley briefly spoke, plainly stating his name for the judge and answering a few yes and no questions, as lawyers at the hearing prepared for a probable cause conference set for the morning of January 7.
Prosecuting lawyers told the court the evidence discovery process was moving slower than usual because many of the children who needed to be interviewed were deeply traumatised.
Crumbley’s lawyer waived the teen’s right to have a preliminary exam within a certain amount of time due to the slow-moving discovery process.
An appointed advocate for Crumbley said she has concerns his confinement at the Oakland County Jail is not appropriate because he is not fully away from “the sounds of the adult inmates” and said she believes based on court law he should be in a juvenile facility where his mental wellbeing would be better.
His lawyer, Paulette Loftin, said Crumbley should not be considered a menace to other kids in prison and therefore be put in the juvenile facility.
The prosecutors challenged this immediately, saying it was absurd to argue he isn’t a threat to kids and that he shouldn’t be in a school environment at the juvenile centre. The presiding judge, Nancy Carniak, sided with the prosecution, saying she believes Crumbley to be a possible menace to other youth.
The slaughter at Oxford High School rocked suburban Detroit, as the community still grieves the death of Tate Myre, Hana St Juliana, Madisyn Baldwin and Justin Shilling.
Crumbley’s parents, Jennifer and James, are facing their own charges of involuntary manslaughter for not doing enough to sufficiently stop the teen from allegedly carrying out the attack.
Crumbley’s parents bought the 9mm semiautomatic handgun their son allegedly used in the shootings just days before, prosecutors allege. The day of the shooting, his parents met with school administrators over a “disturbing” drawing the teen made of murders and guns but refused to take him out of school. The shooting happened just hours later.
Michigan school officials might also see charges for ignoring red flags ahead of the deadly mass shooting, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald warned.
Lawyers for a Michigan high school student injured in the shooting have accused the district of destroying relevant case evidence, according to recent court filings.
Crumbley is being held without bail and his parents are both being held on $500,000 bail. The two appeared to flee after being slapped with the charges and were arrested in Detroit following a manhunt.
The parents hired their own lawyer for their case, but the 15-year-old is being separately represented by a court-appointed lawyer.
This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission
Originally published as Lawyer for Ethan Crumbley wants alleged school shooter moved to juvenile prison
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