by | Published
KARNES COUNTY, Texas — A man who pleaded guilty to seriously injuring a Karnes County sheriff's deputy in a drunken driving crash has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
On Monday, June 29, Judge Russel Wilson sentenced Ryan Aguilar to 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after Aguilar pleaded guilty to intoxication assault of a peace officer.
The crash occurred at approximately 4 p.m. on Aug. 22, 2024.
According to investigators, Aguilar pulled out of the 5D Steakhouse onto Highway 181 and collided with a Karnes County patrol deputy.
The deputy suffered serious injuries in the crash. Aguilar was also seriously injured and was transported to Brooke Army Medical Center.
During the investigation, the Texas Department of Public Safety determined Aguilar had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.211, nearly three times the legal limit.
Investigators also found Aguilar had gone to the restaurant with three co-workers, where the group purchased eight beers and 18 shots of alcohol before the crash.
Authorities said Aguilar did not have a valid driver's license and was not eligible to obtain one.
Although Aguilar entered a guilty plea, prosecutors said he disputed responsibility during the sentencing hearing, telling the court, "I never hit a cop; I was the one who got hit," and adding, "This was truly an accident; if it was my fault or his, we will never know."
After hearing the evidence, Judge Wilson denied Aguilar's request for probation or a reduced sentence and imposed the maximum 20-year sentence allowed under the plea agreement.
The district attorney's office thanked Assistant District Attorney Ryan Wright, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Jesus Barajas, and Adult Probation Officer D'Lila Gonzales for their work on the case.
Prosecutors also emphasized the broader dangers of impaired driving.
"Driving while intoxicated doesn't just endanger law enforcement officers—it puts every innocent driver and family sharing our roads at risk," the office said in a statement. "This crash happened on busy Highway 181 in the middle of the afternoon, when countless people were traveling that roadway. Choosing to drive impaired is a decision that can change lives forever, and we will continue to hold offenders accountable."
