On the first day of his trial, Robert Crimo Jr., the father of the man accused in the Highland Park 4th of July parade mass shooting, pleaded guilty to seven counts of reckless conduct. Crimo had signed an affidavit in 2019 enabling his then-19-year-old son, Robert Crimo III, to apply for a firearm owner's identification (FOID) card. The younger Crimo is accused of shooting more than 50 people, seven fatally, at the 2022 parade.

Crimo Jr. was set to face trial for seven felony counts of reckless conduct, as prosecutors argued he should have known his son was a danger when he signed the FOID card application. However, just before the trial began, Crimo Jr. agreed to a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct and will serve a 60-day jail sentence, along with 2 years of probation. He must also perform 100 hours of community service, surrender his FOID card, and give up any weapons he owns.

Lake County prosecutors maintained that Crimo Jr. was aware of his son's "violent ideations" and past threats of violence. The plea deal involves Crimo Jr. admitting that he knew his son posed a risk to others when he signed the FOID card application. Crimo Jr. will surrender to the Lake County Jail on November 15. His guilty plea was motivated by not wanting to jeopardize his son's upcoming murder trial.