Wood County Judge Gets a Public Warning From a State Commission

QUITMAN – Wood County Judge Kenneth Bryan Jeanes has been given a public warning by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Judge Jeanes was arrested in April for DWI. In August he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to ten days in jail and ordered to pay more than $1,800 in fees. He was released after serving two days. Tuesday, the commission publicly released the warning that was given to the judge on October 20th following the Commission’s meeting earlier that month.

According to the arrest affidavit, an officer assisting on a reckless driver call found the judge resting against a Mineola Police Department vehicle. The officer who arrived first at the scene reported he received a report of an SUV matching Jeanes that was driving north in the southbound lanes of Highway 69. The officer claimed he could smell alcohol on the driver’s breath, see bloodshot eyes, and had trouble hearing Jeanes because he speech was “thick tongued.” When the officer asked the judge if he had too much to drink and drive, he is said to have replied, “No, but probably.” The affidavit also said the judge failed sobriety tests.