Bexar County court administrator charged with DWI in crash

Barbara Schafer accused of hitting car with vehicle outside Tin Barn Saloon

SAN ANTONIO – A Bexar County Court administrator was arrested on suspicion of DWI after she backed her vehicle into a car outside a bar north of downtown, San Antonio police said.

San Antonio Police Department records say Barbara Schafer, 42, was arrested after failing to complete a field sobriety test April 13 outside the Tin Barn Saloon in the 1400 block of North Colorado Street.

Schafer currently serves as the county's family court administrator, a county spokeswoman confirmed Thursday.

According to an SAPD arrest report, Schafer told officers she consumed "probably about two or three beers" at the bar before later changing her story to three to four beers.

Schafer told officers she had taken multiple prescription medications earlier in the day, the report said.

"You are not going to be driving, are you?," a witness asked Schafer as she left the bar before midnight, the report said.

Schafer got into her vehicle and attempted to leave, striking a car as she backed out her vehicle, according to the report.

During the walk-and-turn portion of the field sobriety test, Schafer "started crying and stopped performing this test," claiming she was waiting for her lawyer to call her back, the report said.

Schafer was arrested and proceeded to refuse to provide a breath or blood specimen, the report said.

SAPD records confirm a warrant was obtained for a blood sample.

Judge Peter Sakai, Schafer's supervisor, said via telephone that she reported the arrest in a timely manner and has not been placed on leave.

"Barbara Schafer is a dedicated and loyal employee. I will closely monitor this situation. And if she's convicted or a sentence is imposed, I will reassess her status as an employee of Bexar County," Sakai said.

He said that Schafer has no other blemishes in her county work history.

Schafer has worked for Bexar County since 2009, according to a county spokeswoman.

--------------------------------------------------------

Don't miss a thing. Get email alerts from KSAT12 today.
Get alerted to news events as they happen or sign up for a scheduled news headline email that is delivered right to your inbox. Breaking news, severe weather, daily forecasts, entertainment news, all of the day’s important events to keep you up to date wherever you are.

Sign up today. It's Free.

 

 


About the Author

Emmy-award winning reporter Dillon Collier joined KSAT Investigates in September 2016. Dillon's investigative stories air weeknights on the Nightbeat and on the Six O'Clock News. Dillon is a two-time Houston Press Club Journalist of the Year and a Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Reporter of the Year.

Recommended Videos