Denise Pecina, mother of Robert Climo Jr. and Robert Climo III, at a hearing in August 2022
The father of a man accused of mass murder in the Fourth of July parade has pleaded guilty to reckless conduct for helping his son obtain the gun allegedly used in the attack.
As part of his plea agreement, Robert Climo Jr. was sentenced to 60 days in jail, two years of probation, and 100 hours of community service.
Climo Jr. sponsored a firearm ownership card for his son, Robert Climo III, despite the son’s mental illness and threats of violence.
Police were called to the Climo family at least twice in 2019, once after Robert Climo III attempted suicide and again when he threatened to kill his family. Officers confiscated a knife but did not charge anyone with anything related to the incident, according to a police report.
A few months after the police report, Climo sponsored his son’s firearm ownership card. Roberto Climo III was 19 years old at the time. Illinois residents under 21 must have parental permission to obtain a card.
Climo III continued to use the card to purchase several guns over the next few years, including killing seven people at a holiday parade in Highland Park, a north Chicago suburb, on July 4, 2022. It includes the gun that police said killed a man and injured dozens of others. . His trial date is expected to be set later this year.
It is rare for the parents of mass shooting suspects to be indicted.
In one high-profile case, the parents of a Michigan teenager who shot and killed four of his classmates are scheduled to go on trial next year on charges of manslaughter.And the Illinois man who gave his son the rifle he later used in the Tennessee mass shooting sentenced to 18 months in prison March.
Before entering a guilty plea as part of a last-minute deal with prosecutors, Mr. Climo is scheduled to go on trial starting Monday on seven counts of reckless conduct, each of which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison. Ta.
His attorney, George Gomez, said at a news conference that the plea deal was in the best interest of the community and the young Climo’s defense at trial.
“The last thing Mr. Climo wants is for the Highland Park community to relive these tragic events and put them on display for the public to see,” Gomez told reporters.
If Climo Jr. goes to trial, his lawyer said the evidence presented could jeopardize his son’s case.
“As a father, Mr. Climo wanted to make sure his son received a fair trial,” Gomez said.
