James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of then 15-year-old school shooter Ethan Crumbley, were each sentenced to 10-15 years in prison, with credit for 858 days served, for a crime they didn’t commit. But prosecutors argued they were “grossly negligent,” allowing their son Ethan to have access to a gun and ignoring signs of mental health issues.

The murders took place in November of 2021. The parents were arrested shortly after and were convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter just a few weeks ago. Their son was sentenced last year to life in prison. 

This is the first time parents of a killer have been charged with such a serious crime in a school shooting.

Joining us now to discuss this controversial and unusual turn of events is Michael Letts, a law enforcement veteran with over 30 years of experience under his belt. Letts is President, Founder and CEO of InVest USA, an organization that provides bulletproof vests to police officers through various charitable groups and sponsorships. Welcome, Michael.

 Q&A: 

1. Did the results of this trial against the shooter’s parents surprise you? 

2. Was the sentence excessive?

3. Do you believe the parents made grave errors in this case?

4. Either way, should parents be responsible for their children’s behavior, especially in cases of firearms crimes?

Answer: Parents should not be responsible for children 14 and over, but for children 13 and under.

5. If a 15-year-old child committed a crime with a firearm, and if the parents were not negligent, should they be held responsible?

Answer: No. They should not be held responsible.

6. Could this type of conviction become common following shootings?

7. What is next? We know they want to go after gun manufacturers. How far can this go?

8. Is there any other types of crime where they go after people who are unaware of and uninvolved in the crime being committed? 

About Michael Letts…

Michael Letts is the Founder, President, and CEO of InVest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. He also has over 30 years of law enforcement experience under his belt, hence his pro-police stance for his brothers and sisters in blue. Officer Letts has been a frequent guest on Fox Business News, NewsMax TV, One America News and hundreds of radio programs.