Arthur H. Schmidt III spoke about his mental health struggles during his sentencing hearing on the charge of causing the crash that killed a Chesterton Middle School teacher.
Schmidt, 44, of Portage, was going to be sentenced Wednesday in Porter County Superior Court 1 for criminal recklessness, a Level 5 felony. The Nov. 8, 2022, crash in Portage instantly killed Lauren Thompson, 24, a middle school English teacher.
But Judge Michael A. Fish didn’t have a pre-sentence investigation report, in part because Schmidt wasn’t cooperative when he was approached by a probation officer.
The sentencing hearing was continued until 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 12.
Deputy Porter County Prosecutor Chris Hammer asked the judge that Schmidt be remanded into custody because of the apparent “disdain” he showed.
Hammer said that when the probation officer asked Schmidt to fill out a form, the reply was, “It’s not going to happen.”
Defense Attorney Robert A. Varga apologized on behalf of his client, noting that Schmidt was “overwhelmed” and has ongoing mental health and physical struggles.
Schmidt was also apologetic and stated that he has had mental health struggles and “near-death” experiences.
“I realized I needed help with it,” Schmidt said, regarding the forms that needed to be filled out. Schmidt is being considered for the Porter County PACT, an alternative sentencing program.
Varga asked that Schmidt remain free on bond, noting that he has never failed to show for any court appearance.
Judge Fish granted the defendant’s request and noted that it is in Schmidt’s best interests to cooperate.
“If you don’t want to cooperate, we can do something about it,” Fish said.
Schmidt could face up to six years maximum in prison for his conviction on the Level 5 felony charge.
Thompson was stopped in her SUV at a traffic light on Willowcreek Road at the intersection of Lute Road the evening of Nov. 8, 2022.
Data retrieved from a recorder in Schmidt’s Cadillac SUV found that he was traveling at the speed of 113 mph five seconds before the crash, court records show.
Schmidt did brake, but his vehicle was still at 107 mph when his southbound vehicle crashed into the back of Thompson’s SUV.
Portage firefighters had to extricate Schmidt from his crushed Cadillac. It took months for Schmidt to recover and even longer to investigate the six-vehicle crash.
Schmidt was originally charged with reckless homicide along with criminal recklessness. The reckless homicide charge was dropped in a change of plea agreement reached in late November.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
