A Wisconsin man who was dangerously intoxicated when he smashed his vehicle into an oncoming SUV late last year, killing four brothers, now faces several decades in prison.
Scott Farmer, 48, pled no contest Wednesday in Waupaca County to four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle and one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated for the fifth time. Because of his previous drunk driving offenses, the more serious charge carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in jail.
As part of the plea agreement, one further criminal charge and four pending traffic penalties were dismissed. Farmer was initially charged in December 2023 with four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, one count of operating a vehicle with a revoked license, one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated for the fifth time, possessing open intoxicants in a vehicle, reckless driving, driving the wrong way on a divided highway, and speeding on an expressway.
On Dec. 16, 2023, the defendant killed the driver of the other car, Daniel Gonzalez, 25, in a head-on collision on Highway 10 in Weyauwega, as well as his brother Fabian Gonzalez, 23, and his sisters, Lilian Gonzalez, 14, and Daniela Gonzalez, 9.
A Facebook page has various tributes to the fallen. A GoFundMe page has been established to help their family.
A farmer was traveling westbound in the eastbound lane. An EMT noticed a huge bottle of vodka in the truck.
Qualitative and quantitative evidence demonstrates how inebriated Farmer was at the time of the life-altering occurrence.
When questioned about what happened, he initially insisted: “I just spun out” and “I didn’t hit anybody.” Farmer became aggressive toward firefighters and even attempted to attack hospital workers. Finally, he admitted to having “a lot” to drink but claimed the crash occurred on “the 12th of February.”
According to the criminal complaint, when investigating the deadly incident, investigators discovered that Farmer reeked of alcohol.
“I noticed a distinct whiff of intoxicants coming from the inside of the vehicle. I noticed Scott had bloodshot and glassy (or watery) eyes. His eyelids were drooping. He spoke very slowly, thickly, and mumbled. His speech was nonsensical at times, and his words trailed off, making it impossible for me to grasp.
His facial motions were slow and delayed, particularly his facial and eye movements,” a deputy stated. “He also refused to sit still when requested to do so. He tried to crawl across to the passenger side of the car at one point. All of these observations point to impairment, specifically impairment caused by alcohol consumption.
A blood test revealed that Farmer had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of.346 at the time his blood was collected. The legal limit for regular drivers in Wisconsin is 08, but the defendant’s BAC was even lower due to his criminal history.
Due to earlier drunk-driving offenses, his legal limit was 02.
The defendant’s documented drinking and driving incidents date back several decades. He was convicted of these counts on October 6, 1999, September 18, 2001, November 29, 2006, and December 18, 2019.
He’s probably certainly been convicted for the final time.
A courtroom report from Green Bay-based Fox affiliate WLUK examined the gloomy, tear-filled sentencing hearing.
“She’s a little relieved that now, after this time-consuming process, something will soon be decided,” said Paulina Schilling, the victims’ mother. “Grateful but dealing with pain in the process.”
Pastor Kurt Schilling, the victims’ stepfather, was cautiously optimistic about the outcome of the plea agreement, saying, “The main charges are there, and I hope justice is served in the end.”
“It would have been easy for us [to] hate the man who did this,” the Lutheran pastor earlier told mourners during his children’s funeral rituals. “But what good would that do for any of us?”
Sentencing in the case is set for November 22nd.