WAUPACA, WI (WSAU) — The man accused of driving drunk and causing a deadly head-on collision has pled no contest to five counts associated with the incident.
Scott Farmer entered the plea on Wednesday for homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and a 5th OWI for the December 2023 crash that killed four siblings, identified as Daniel, Fabian, Lilian, and Daniela Gonzalez. Three of the siblings died at the scene, the fourth died at a hospital the next day. Farmer was driving the wrong way down a four-lane highway when he crashed into their vehicle head-on.
A judge found him guilty on all five counts. Two additional counts were dismissed but read into the record including operating with a revoked license.
The four were originally from Ecuador and were the step-children of Pastor Kurt Schilling, who serves the Emmaus Lutheran Church in Waupaca. Court proceedings were delayed earlier this year so the children’s family could attend their burial services in South America.
Daniel and Fabian were in their 20s and working on a local dairy farm. Lilian and Daniela were students in the Weyauwega-Fremont School District.
Schilling’s wife, Paulina Gonzalez-Medina, was their biological mother.
Farmer’s BAC was .35 at the time of the crash, well above both the legal limit of .08 and his own limit of .02 due to his four previous convictions.
A presentence investigation will now be completed. His sentencing date has been scheduled for November 22nd.
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