Parents of Michigan school shooter are assigned attorneys as they file intent to appeal convictions

DETROIT — The parents of the Oxford High School shooter have been appointed appeals attorneys less than a month after they were sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison each for four counts of involuntary manslaughter connected to the mass shooting.

James and Jennifer Crumbley have not yet officially filed an appeal, but they have taken the first step in doing so.

They are the first parents in the U.S. to be convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with their child's mass school shooting.

Michael Dezsi is Jennifer's attorney and Alona Sharon is James' lawyer. Both Royal Oak-based attorneys were appointed at no cost to the Crumbleys because they cannot afford to pay for their legal representation.

Dezsi and Sharon did not immediately respond Tuesday for comment.

They filed a notice of intent to appeal April 16, and the attorneys were appointed the same day.

Their son also has filed an intent to appeal, and his appointed attorney said at the time that the boy would be invoking his right to remain silent if he were to be called as a witness in his parents' trials. He has not submitted a formal appeal.

The Crumbleys were given the maximum sentence allowed by law by Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews for their gross negligence that contributed to the 2021 high school shooting carried out by their son, Ethan. The sentence — for four counts each of involuntary manslaughter — was in line with what prosecutors had sought.

The four counts of involuntary manslaughter were connected to the four children their son killed — Hana St. Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Tate Myre, 16; and Justin Shilling, 17.

Separate juries in Oakland County convicted Jennifer and James in February and March, respectively, each deliberating for more than 10 hours before handing down the convictions.

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