On July 31, 2025, James Michael Franklin pled guilty to his fourth offense of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
The charge stems from an incident in which law enforcement was dispatched to a local hospital following a single-vehicle crash involving Franklin. According to responding deputies, Franklin was found at the crash site holding an empty can of Keystone beer and attempting to drink from it.
Upon arrival at the hospital, troopers made contact with Franklin, who made several incriminating statements, including, "You're the one going to take me for my 4th DWI," and, "I knew I was f**d so I started slamming beers." Officers noted that Franklin was slurring his speech, his eyes appeared watery, and there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from him.
Subsequent testing revealed Franklin’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to be .17, more than twice the legal limit of .08.
This case is another clear reminder of the serious and ongoing threat repeat DWI offenders pose to public safety. We are grateful no one else was injured or killed, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to protect our community.
We are grateful for the investigation of DPS Troopers Jesus Barajas and Joseph Lerma, as well as Karnes County Sheriff Deputy Pedro Reyna. This case was prosecuted by Asst. District Attorney Ryan Wright.
Franklin’s 12-year sentence reflects the severity of the offense and his history of prior DWI convictions.