OXFORD, Mich. (FOX 2) - Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley appeared in court Thursday for his monthly jail hearing where he was ordered to remain in the Oakland County Jail.
The brief hearing lasted less than five minutes and Crumbley was not present via Zoom. Because of his age, the 16-year-old's placement in the jail must be reviewed by a judge. These hearings are virtual and tend to be quick, and he is expected to remain in the jail.
Crumbley has been at the Oakland County Jail since the Nov. 30, 2021, shooting instead of Children's Village, where juvenile offenders usually go.
Crumbley pleaded guilty to four counts of murder, one count of terrorism, seven counts of assault with intent to murder, and 12 counts of possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony last year.
Prosecutors are seeking a life without parole sentence for the teen.
Before he is sentenced, Crumbley will have another hearing. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald has referred to this as a Miller hearing, in reference to the U.S. Supreme Court's 2012 Miller v. Alabama ruling.
That ruling prevents mandatory life-without-parole sentences for children. These sentences can still be imposed, but they require a special hearing to decide if it is appropriate. This means that Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the crime, cannot automatically receive life without the chance of parole.
That hearing was originally set for Feb. 10, 2023, but was pushed back indefinitely. Judge Kwame Rowe said some other items still needed to be ironed out before that hearing can proceed.
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Terrorism charge against Oxford shooter has major implications for 1,800 students
After Ethan Crumbley pleaded guilty to killing four students inside Oxford High School, the terrorism charge he admitted to will allow close to 2,000 the opportunity to address the shooter.