An Austin Independent School District teaching assistant is facing charges after police say he drove while intoxicated with three children in his car earlier this month. 37-year-old Ralph Hutchens, who works at Summitt Elementary School, was arrested on Feb. 11 in Comal County. Following the arrest, Hutchens was placed on administrative leave, the school district confirmed, as reported by KXAN.
With a bottle of vodka found in Hutchens’ car that was nearly empty, police stated he was transporting the children from a day out at Six Flags in San Antonio. Hutchens denied drinking on the day of the arrest, blaming it instead on the previous day's consumption, claiming "any alcohol this date at Six Flags because it is too expensive." The three children, two 11-year-olds and a nine-year-old were safely handed over to family members after the incident, according to FOX 7 Austin.
New Braunfels Police received multiple calls about Hutchens’ car swerving dangerously across lanes on I-35 before officers apprehended him. Court documents reveal his erratic driving "observed to nearly strike other vehicles on the interstate." This isn't Hutchens' first brush with the law; Texas Department of Public Safety records show he was previously arrested in 2008 for DWI and pled guilty to a Class B misdemeanor.
If convicted, Hutchens could face serious consequences. A state jail felony, the category his charge falls under due to the children's presence, can carry a sentence of up to two years and a fine of up to $10,000. In contrast, a Class B misdemeanor—the charge for a standard DWI—imposes up to six months of jail time and a fine that can reach $2,000. Hutchens' case continues to develop as further details emerge, as per FOX 7 Austin.
