Nearly a decade after a man died on a San Antonio sidewalk, a jury has finally begun hearing testimony in the case against the driver accused of killing him. James Kearns is charged with intoxication manslaughter in the March 14, 2017 death of 50-year-old Karlton Walker, and he now faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors say Walker was walking near McCarty Road and San Pedro Avenue when a vehicle struck him, and that he died at the scene, according to KSAT. KSAT also reported that a responding officer smelled alcohol on Kearns's breath. The case has stretched across years of court proceedings.
The 2021 Mistrial
Kearns's case ended in a mistrial in 2021.
Nearly a Decade, Numerous Settings, One New Trial Date
Kearns's case returned to trial in 2026, nearly a decade after Walker died. The jury now hearing the case is considering the intoxication manslaughter charge.
Under Texas law, intoxication manslaughter is a second-degree felony that can carry a fine of up to $10,000, a prison term of two to 20 years, and a driver's-license suspension of 180 days to two years, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The jury is hearing the case.
