WAUKEGAN, Ill. – Robert Crimo III appeared in court Wednesday, accompanied by his newly assigned public defender, Anton Trizna. In December, Crimo expressed his desire to defend himself and requested a speedy trial, prompting the judge to schedule the trial for February. However, he has since changed his mind and requested to have a public defender represent him once again. Crimo is facing 21 counts of first-degree murder and 48 counts of attempted murder in connection with a mass shooting at the Highland Park Independence Day Parade in July 2022.
Crimo’s father, Robert Crimo Jr., who served time for his role in signing off on his son’s firearm owners identification card, was also present in court. The defense had requested to postpone the trial until February 2025, but prosecutors preferred to have the trial later this year, citing the extensive preparation required for the case, which is expected to last several weeks.
ABC7 Legal Analyst Gil Soffer commented on Crimo’s decision to have a public defender, stating, “There was no earthly way defending himself would have been to his benefit. Somebody talked some sense into him.” Soffer also highlighted the complexity of the case, noting that there are thousands of pages of evidence and hundreds of witnesses to prepare for.
The judge has requested the public defender’s office to have an internal discussion about their readiness for trial, with the intention of setting a court date next month. Despite the defense’s request for a later trial date, the prosecution is keen on proceeding with the trial later this year, emphasizing the extensive preparation required for a case of this magnitude.
In light of the elaborate nature of the case and the multitude of evidence and witnesses involved, experts anticipate that the trial will be lengthy and complex. The judge has yet to confirm the trial date, but preparations for the case continue as both the defense and prosecution make their respective arguments.