KSAT-TV reporter John Paul Barajas has landed himself a tougher legal battle after recent lab results showed his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to be nearly twice the legal limit at the time of his November arrest, according to court documents. The San Antonio reporter, initially facing a Class B misdemeanor for driving while intoxicated, now faces a Class A misdemeanor following the findings.
The enhanced charge suggests Barajas' BAC was .15 or higher, as detailed by court records and, a source familiar with the investigation. Reflecting on the severity of such an offense, Texas law stipulates that a Class A misdemeanor could result in up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. This is a significant uptick from the up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine associated with a Class B offense.
Barajas' arrest occurred around 2 a.m. on November 5 on Interstate 10 on the Northwest Side when an officer observed the reporter speeding and swerving between lanes. According to a police affidavit obtained by Express News, Barajas exhibited signs of intoxication, including bloodshot eyes and difficulty reciting the alphabet past 'K' when prompted by the arresting officer.
Despite his refusal to provide a voluntary blood or breath sample, law enforcement secured a search warrant and proceeded with a blood draw. A BAC of .08 is considered legally impaired, and Barajas' level being almost twice that amount poses a significant risk on the roads. At .15 or higher, the likelihood of a crash skyrockets, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Barajas has been part of the KSAT team since June 2021, having previously worked at KRGV-TV in the Rio Grande Valley. His court appearance for the DWI charge is scheduled for March. Meanwhile, KSAT's vice president and general manager, Ashley Parker, has called for privacy while stating, "KSAT12 is aware of an incident regarding one of our employees being arrested for alleged driving under the influence on November 5th, 2023," in a report by Express News. The arrest follows a similar incident involving former KSAT anchor and sports director Greg Simmons, who resigned after his own DWI arrest early last year.
