Scott Farmer appears in Waupaca County Court Dec. 26, 2023. (Image courtesy Waupaca County Courts/Zoom)
WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Scott Farmer, the suspect in a drunken driving crash which killed four siblings, apologized to the victims’ family in court Tuesday.
Farmer, 47, has been charged with six counts, including four of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, in connection with the Dec. 16 crash which killed Daniel, Fabian, Lilian and Daniela Gonzalez.
The focus of Tuesday’s hearing was Farmer’s financial situation, but afterwards, Farmer asked if he could apologize to the victims to “get it off my chest.” Judge Raymond Huber advised him anything he said could be used against him in the case, but Farmer proceeded anyway.
I just wanted to tell them that I’m very sorry for what happened, for their losses, and that day I wish I would have lost my life instead of them. In affecting their family in my actions, I just wanted to say I’m so sorry I affected them like that. And I didn’t mean nothing by any of this; I truly didn’t wake up that day to do this. God bless everybody I’ve affected in this case with all my bad decisions I have made. Thank you letting me say how sorry, how truly sorry. Thank you.
Farmer does not have an attorney yet, putting the case on hold. Farmer said he’s unable to afford the retainer needed, and asked for a county-appointed attorney. If approved, Farmer would have to pay back the county for the legal fees.
Of the assets they have — vehicles, camper, and home — they owe money to the bank on, but are looking to sell them, according to his wife, Jaime. There also may be some retirement funds available.
Judge Huber asked for additional information before making a decision. Another hearing will be held Jan. 23.
When the case the resumes, the next step will be a preliminary hearing.
According to the criminal complaint, police were called to a report of a wrong-way driver on Highway 10, near County X, in Weyauwega. The crash happened at about 9:15 p.m. on Dec. 16.
Farmer’s truck was travelling westbound in the eastbound lane, and crashed into the other vehicle. Three people in the crash died at the scene, a fourth victim died later at the hospital.
A medic told police there was a large bottle of vodka by Farmer. While in the ambulance, Farmer was asked how much he had to drink, to which he replied, “A lot.” When asked what day it was, he responded Feb. 12. When asked how fast he was driving, he replied “(Expletive) 75.”
If convicted, it would be Farmer’s fifth OWI conviction after previous offenses of Oct. 6, 1999, Sept. 18, 2001, Nov. 29, 2006 and Dec. 18, 2019. His driver’s license was revoked at the time of the crash.
Also, because of the previous convictions, his legal limit for driving would be .02, instead of .08. The criminal complaint does not cite a breath test, but said a blood draw would performed.
Comments