A St. John man convicted in a fatal 2011 drunk driving crash, could avoid jail time for his latest arrest, records show.
Michael A. Temores, 35, admitted in court documents that he was drunk on Sept. 13, 2020, when he asked for his friend’s truck keys, saying he wanted to lie down, and left a Calumet Township bar. He hit a parked motorcycle at a Schererville bar before he was later arrested, an affidavit states.
Police arrested him on the 9300 block of Blaine Street in Crown Point after he hit a guardrail, according to court documents. Temores smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and needed to be helped on his feet, documents state. He twice refused a chemical test and had blood drawn at a hospital after a warrant was issued.
His blood alcohol content was 0.206% — about 2.5 times the legal limit — according to court records.
In the deal he cut with prosecutors, Temores pleaded guilty in documents filed Oct. 28 to operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Level 5 felony.
If Judge Natalie Bokota accepts the plea agreement, the deal calls for a five year-term with three years in Lake County Corrections’ Initial Placement Day Reporting program — i.e. home detention — and two years probation.
Temores would also have his driver’s license suspended for one year, which would be retroactive to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ date for administrative suspension. He must also enroll in drug and alcohol treatment classes. Temores has four drunk driving arrests dating back to 2009, Indiana court records show. He has about 100 traffic citations dating back nearly 20 years. Around 70% were for speeding or seatbelt violations, according to court filings.
His sentencing date is set for Jan. 5.
Attorney Steven Mullins is representing Temores. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Barbara McConnell signed the plea agreement for the prosecution.
In his previous case, Temores, then 27, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Fred Skafgaard, 61, of Lansing, Illinois, on Dec. 30, 2011 while operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of at least 0.15 percent.
He was sentenced to 11 years under the deal. He left prison in September 2016 after he was allowed to shift to Lake County’s Community Transition Court. He was discharged in May 2017.
Temores and his friends had been at Aqua Vor Nightclub in Hammond on Dec. 29, 2011, arriving about 10:30 p.m. and leaving around 2:30 a.m. Temores had been kicked out of the club, but was allowed back in because he knew security staff there. After leaving, Temores tried to drive to his home in Munster. On the way home, he was driving about 90 mph, running traffic signs and signals.
Temores ran a red light at Hohman Avenue and Ridge Road in Munster and slammed into the driver’s side of Skafgaard’s truck, pushing it about 50 yards before both vehicles stopped near the Christian Reformed Church parking lot.
A blood draw at Community Hospital in Munster on the morning of the crash showed Temores had a blood-alcohol level of 0.18%.
Temores, who already had an extensive driving record, admitted he was more than two times the legal limit and speeding when his Cadillac SUV slammed into Skafgaard’s truck.
