Robert E. Crimo Jr., center, father of Robert Crimo III, and his attorney George Gomez stand after an appearance in front of Judge George Strickland at the Lake County courthouse in Waukegan Thursday. | Photo: Nam Y. Huh (AP / Pool)

The father of the accused Highland Park parade shooter appeared in court Thursday after he was charged last month with “recklessly” helping his son obtain a gun permit.

Robert Crimo Jr., 58, of Highwood, appeared in front of Lake County Judge George Strickland during Thursday’s status of preliminary hearing.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Crimo Jr. in mid-December with seven counts of reckless conduct causing great bodily harm.

Crimo Jr. has not been arraigned yet on the charges because prosecutors said the case has not yet been presented to a grand jury for indictment.

Prosecutors said the case will be presented to a grand jury soon.

Strickland scheduled the next hearing in the case for February 16 for an arraignment hearing.

Crimo Jr. is the father of 22-year-old Robert E. Crimo III, who currently faces 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.

Prosecutors and Highland Park police officers allege that Crimo Jr. was criminally reckless at the time that he helped his son obtain a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card.

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Robert Crimo Jr., 58, of Highwood (left) and Robert E. Crimo III, 22, of Highwood (right).

Prosecutors said that helping his son obtain a FOID card was a contributing cause to the harm suffered by the murder victims in the July 4 mass shooting in Highland Park.

The man’s son, Crimo III, was under 21 when he sought to obtain the FOID card and required his father’s participation in the application process.

Lake County Judge Paul Novak found probable cause for the charges and issued a warrant for Crimo Jr.’s arrest in mid-December.

Crimo Jr. was transported to the Lake County Jail after being arrested by the Highland Park Police Department and appeared in bond court.

Attorney George Gomez said at the time that his client has no criminal history and is a former business owner.

Gomez said Crimo Jr. had $5,000 cash to post for bond if the court imposed a cash bond.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Lindsay Hicks asked the court to order Crimo Jr. to surrender his concealed carry license and FOID card, along with any firearms he possesses, as a condition of bond.

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Numerous police departments and SWAT teams respond on July 4, 2022, to the area of Second Street and Central Avenue in Highland Park following a shooting that left over two dozen people injured and seven killed. | Photo: Willie Gillespie (@wgweather)

Hicks also said she was in agreement with Gomez for a $50,000 bond, meaning $5,000 would need to be posted for Crimo Jr. to be released.

​Lake County Judge Jacquelyn Melius questioned why prosecutors asked for the low bond. Hicks said she believed that amount is enough to secure Crimo Jr.’s return to court.

Melius reduced the bond to $50,000. The original bond on the warrant was $500,000.

Crimo Jr. was released from the Lake County Jail on December 17 after posting the $5,000 cash.

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said during a December press conference that parents are in the “best position” to decide whether their teenager should have a weapon.

“They are the first line of defense. In this case, that system failed when Robert Crimo Jr. sponsored his son,” Rinehart said.

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“He knew what he knew, and he signed the form anyway. This was criminally reckless and a contributing cause to the bodily harm suffered by the victims on July 4,” Rinehart said.

Numerous police departments and SWAT teams respond on July 4, 2022, to the area of Second Street and Central Avenue in Highland Park following a shooting that left over three dozen people injured and seven people killed. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Illinois State Police and the Lake County Major Crime Task Force detailed two past law enforcement encounters with Crimo III.

Crimo III applied for the FOID card in December 2019 after police responded in September 2019 to his residence when he threatened to “kill everyone.”

A “clear and present danger” report was filed with the state police but no one in the family wanted to move forward with a criminal complaint.

Crimo III had also attempted suicide in April 2019, prompting a police response.

Reckless conduct is a Class 4 felony and Crimo Jr. can be sentenced to up to three years in prison, but he could also receive probation.

Crimo III is scheduled to appear in court next on Tuesday before Judge Victoria Rossetti.