>> ROBERT CRIMO JUNIOR, THE FATHER OF THE ALLEGED HIGHLAND PARK GUNMAN PLEADED GUILTY TODAY TO RECKLESS CONDUCT.

THE PLEA CAME JUST MOMENTS BEFORE HIS BENCH TRIAL WAS SET TO BEGIN.

>> YOU'RE ENTERING PLEAS OF GUILTY TO 7 POUNDS CLASS, A MISDEMEANOR, ALL OF WHICH ARE PUNISHED WE'RE IN THE COUNTY JAIL.

$2500 FINE FOR BULL TO UNDERSTAND.

YES.

>> WTW NEWS REPORTER MATT MASTERSON WAS IN THE LAKE COUNTY COURTROOM TODAY AND JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

MATT, WHAT'S THE SENTENCE HERE?

SO HE WAS SENTENCED TO 2 YEARS PROBATION, WHICH WILL COME AFTER YOU SERVE 60 DAYS IN THE COUNTY JAIL THERE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE STARTING NEXT MONTH.

HE HASN'T BEEN TURNED INTO A CUSTODY JUST YET.

OKAY.

SO HOW DID THE FATHER OF THE ALLEGED SHOOTER GET INVOLVED IN CRIMO JUNIOR?

THE FATHER ARRESTED AFTER HE SIGNED AFFIDAVIT SUPPORTING HIS SON ROBERT CRIMO, THE 3RD APPLICATION FOR A FIREARM OWNERS IDENTIFICATION CARD OR CARD CRIMO.

THE 3RD WAS 19 AT THE TIME SO HE COULD NOT GET A FOID CARD WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT.

THE ISSUE, THOUGH, IS THAT CRIMO JUNIOR KNEW THAT THERE ARE SOME SUBSTANTIAL ISSUES WHEN HE SIGNED THAT AFFIDAVIT, HE KNEW THAT HIS SON HAD MADE THREATS AGAINST HIS FAMILY.

HE HAD MADE SUICIDAL THREATS AGAINST HIMSELF.

>> AND HE TALKED IN THE PAST ABOUT COMMITTING A MASS SHOOTING.

THIS HIGHLAND PARK.

IT ALSO BEEN SENT TO HOW THE CREAM ALE HOUSE AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE THIS AFFIDAVIT WAS SIGNED IN CRIMO JUNIOR KNEW ALL THIS WHEN HE WENT AHEAD AND SIGNED THAT.

SO THE CRIMES CHARGED WITH WAS KNOWING THAT HIS SON POSED A THREAT, 2 OTHER PEOPLE, BUT IGNORING THAT INFORMATION TO HELP THEM BUY THESE FIREARMS.

HOW COMMON IS IT FOR PARENTS TO BE CHARGED IN SIMILAR?

>> MASS SHOOTING CASES LIKE THIS?

YEAH, IT'S QUITE THE MOST WELL-KNOWN CASE RECENTLY PARENTS IN MICHIGAN OF THE PARENTS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER THERE WHO'VE BEEN CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER THE STATE'S ATTORNEY IN LAKE COUNTY ALSO REFERENCED CASE IN NEW YORK.

BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, IT'S IT'S PRETTY UNCOMMON FOR PARENTS TO BE CHARGED RELATION SOMETHING LIKE BRENDAN KELLY, THE HEAD OF THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE, HE SPOKE TODAY AS WELL.

HE SAID THAT THE PROSECUTION, ROBERT CRIMO JUNIOR AND THE SUBSEQUENT GUILTY PLEA WERE UNPRECEDENTED IN ILLINOIS.

>> ANY EXPLANATION AS TO WHY CRIMO JUNIOR TOOK THE PLEA HIS ATTORNEY SAID HIS CLIENT WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS SON CRIMO THE 3RD GETS A FAIR TRIAL WHEN HE GOES CHILD SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.

>> THAT SOME EVIDENCE THAT WOULD HAVE COME OUT IN THIS CASE COULD HAVE AFFECTED THAT INCLUDING SNIPPETS OR ON TRANSCRIPTS FROM A 7 HOUR INTERVIEW, THE CREAM OF THE 3RD HAD WITH HIGHLAND PARK POLICE AFTER HE WAS ARRESTED FOR THE SHOOTING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ADMITTED AT THIS TRIAL AND GONE PUBLIC.

IT ALSO MEANT THAT NO CRIMO FAMILY MEMBER HAD TO TESTIFY AT THIS TRIAL.

THE DOT ABOUT CALLING CRIMO THE 3RD.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THE PROSECUTION HAD SOUGHT TO BRING HIS BROTHER A YOUNGER BROTHER IN TO TESTIFY THAT WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.

BUT WITH THE PLEA DEAL THAT AVOIDED AND FROM THE PROSECUTION STANDPOINT, THEY GET SOME MEASURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS A GUILTY VERDICT HERE EVEN WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THE TRIAL.

>> AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE ALLEGED GUNMAN CRIMO THE 3RD INNING IDEA WHEN HIS TRIAL IS IT'S GOING LIKELY BE SOMETIME NEXT YEAR.

HE'S DUE BACK IN COURT NEXT MONTH FOR A HEARING AT WHICH POINT THEY WILL SET A TRIAL DATE.

SOME POINT IN THE THAT MASTERSON YOU'LL BE KEEPING YOUR EYE ON IT FOR US.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

FRIENDS.