Man enters no contest in case of DUI wreck that killed son

Kim Smith

Friday, Nov. 1, 2002 | 9:48 a.m.

One day after opening statements in his drunken driving trial, a 27-year-old Las Vegas man pleaded the equivalent of no contest to a DUI charge.

Michael Anthony Schlotfeldt acknowledged Thursday that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him of driving under the influence of an intoxicating liquor, causing death and substantial bodily harm.

As a result of his plea agreement, Schlotfeldt could receive up to a 20-year prison term when District Judge Michael Douglas sentences him next month. Four other charges against him will be dismissed.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker told jurors that Schlotfeldt spent the evening of March 16 drinking and gambling in Laughlin before he decided to drive home to Las Vegas with his 2-year-old son, Tommy.

When Schlotfeldt reached the Searchlight area on U.S. 95, he attempted to pass five tractor trailers by crossing into the southbound lanes, Booker said.

Before he could do so, he struck a U-Haul truck head-on, seriously injuring the driver, David Walker.

Schlotfeldt's son died instantaneously from head, chest and abdominal injuries, Booker said. Walker was seriously injured in the crash but survived.

Booker said Schlotfeldt confessed to having been drinking and a blood test taken less than three hours after the crash showed he had a blood alcohol level of .07.

By extrapolating, chemists believe Schlotfeldt had a blood alcohol level of .13 at the time of the accident -- well above the legal limit of .10, Booker said.

Schlotfeldt's attorney, Herb Sachs, told jurors that extrapolating is unreliable.