Ethan Crumbley asks court to dismiss ‘life without parole’ condition

Posted at 9:43 AM, July 11, 2023

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (Scripps News Detroit) — Ethan Crumbley is asking the court to dismiss the life without parole condition that is connected to his guilty pleas in the Oxford High School shootings.

Crumbley enters guilty plea in 2022.

Ethan Crumbley answers yes to charges against him from assistant prosecutor during his pre-trial hearing at Oakland County Courthouse, Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Pontiac, Mich. Crumbley entered the guilty plea to 24 criminal charges including terrorism causing death and first-degree murder for the Oxford High School shooting. (Clarence Tabb Jr./Detroit News via AP)

Crumbley asked to dismiss the condition in a motion to the court. He is also asking for permission to dress in street clothes for his upcoming hearing. He is next due in court for a motion hearing on July 12.

Crumbley pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including one count of terrorism and four counts of first-degree murder, in last year’s deadly Oxford High School shooting, in October.

Tate Myre, 16, Hana St. Juliana,14, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17, were killed in the shooting. Seven other people were injured.

The guilty plea eliminates the need for a criminal trial.

A first-degree murder conviction typically brings an automatic life prison sentence in Michigan, but teenagers are entitled to a hearing at which their lawyer can argue for a shorter term and an opportunity for parole.

The teenager withdrew his intent to pursue an insanity defense and repeatedly acknowledged that he understands the potential penalties.

This story was originally published by Scripps News Detroit, an E.W. Scripps Company.