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Legal analysis: Oxford shooter's chance at a life in prison sentence is closer to happening
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald scored a big win in court today in terms of keeping the confessed Oxford High School shooter behind bars permanently when the sentencing date comes in December.
FOX 2 (WJBK) - The Oxford High School shooter who pleaded guilty in the fall of 2022, was not sentenced during a hearing on Friday – but the ruling left the option open for a lifetime sentence without parole.
Rowe pointed out how the teen carefully planned and carried out the shooting that killed four teens, and wounded six others and a teacher.
Juveniles are not normally sentenced to life in prison without parole - the shooter's defense team argued he could be rehabilitated. The prosecutors disagreed - after an extensive hearing, the judge had to consider the shooter's age and maturity, his family and home environment, his role in the murders, and the possibility of rehabilitation.
FOX 2 Legal Analyst Charlie Langton said the decision was a major victory for Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald.
He says McDonald wanted the judge at the time of sentencing to be able to give the shooter life in prison. And now that is a possibility.
"Prior to this, minors generally do not get life in prison unless the prosecutor can show clear and convincing evidence - a very tough standard - that this minor should get life in prison," Langton said.
He explained the factors that led the judge to make this ruling.
"A number of factors - the age of this particular shooter, the circumstances surrounding this particular crime, the rehabilitation potential, those are the big ones," Langton said. "The judge noted the shooter was a very mature 15-year-old, that he meticulously planned and researched the possible consequences drew pictures of guns, and did homework assignment that was not good for the shooter.
"Also, the crime was so horrendous that the judge didn't even get into the facts."
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Why the Oxford shooter wasn't sentenced on Friday
The Oxford High School pleaded guilty almost a year ago and, on Friday, was in court for a ruling on whether he will be eligible to spend life in prison. After nearly an hour of reading the order, Judge Kwame Rowe ruled that the prosecution has done enough to show that he is eligible for a sentence of life in prison.
The shooter's parents Jennifer and James Crumbley, also play a role in the sentence.
"His parents may have been a problem, they're being tried as well. But the parents never beat him, he did have a semi-normal upbringing," Langton said. "But the rehabilitation, the judge said the rehabilitation (possibility) for the shooter is slim. In the short time that he was in prison in jail, he committed four violations."
Rowe said the minor probably would not be a good candidate for rehabilitation.
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Judge rules Oxford High School shooter can get life without parole
The Oxford High School shooter could get life without parole when he is sentenced in December. Judge Kwame Rowe made the decision after four days of testimony during his Miller hearing due to the shooter's age.
More coverage
- ‘I will be the next school shooter’ - shooter's head space detailed in Day 1 of Miller Hearing
- ‘I realized I was going to die’ - victims give heart wrenching statements
- Psychologist says Oxford shooter was a ‘feral child’
"The bottom line here, this shooter in the Oxford High School case now when sentencing comes, could in fact, get life in prison," Langton said. "It is not a done deal yet. But now life in prison is on the table."
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Oxford shooter eligible to spend life in prison, judge rules
The court rules that life without parole is only for those whose crimes reflect irreparable corruption. On Friday, Judge Kwame Rowe said the Oxford shooter is one of those cases and could spend life in prison.