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Name:
Karnes, Paul Romero
Date of Booking:
04/24/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On April 24th, 2026 at approximately 2304 hours, Deputies were assisting Walthourville Police Department with a safety check point. This checkpoint was conducted on GA 119 near the 10 mile marker. I observed a gray Chevrolet Silverado (GA tag- [REDACTED]) approach the checkpoint. I made contact with the driver, Paul Karnes. I asked Mr. Karnes to show me his driver’s license, he complied. I did smell a strong odor commonly associated with an alcoholic beverage coming from inside the vehicle. I instructed Mr. Karnes to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, he complied.
I made contact with Mr. Karnes again at the truck window and I observed bloodshot and watery eyes. I asked Mr. Karnes to exit the vehicle, he complied. Once Mr. Karnes exited the vehicle, he had a very strong odor commonly associated with an alcoholic beverage coming from his person. I asked Mr. Karnes how much alcohol he had consumed tonight, and he advised me he had a few drinks at the house. I asked Mr. Karnes if he would participate in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, he agreed. Testing is as follows.
Prior to beginning each test, I placed Mr. Karnes in the instructional phase and made sure he understood all the instructions.
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus- 4/6 clues
Lack of Smooth Pursuit
Distinct and Sustained Nystagmus at maximum deviation
Walk and Turn- 3/8 clues
Missed heel to toe
Improper turn
Could not hold instructional phase
One Leg Stand- 2/4 clues
Used arms for balance
Swayed side to side
I then requested Mr. Karnes provide a breath sample in my portable breath tester and he agreed. I gathered a positive indication of ethyl alcohol on his breath. (0.088)
Mr. Karnes was placed under arrest for DUI and into double locked handcuffs which were checked for fit. Mr. Karnes was read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for suspects over the age of 21 from my green card. He agreed to the requested breath testing.
Mr. Karnes was searched incident to arrest before being placed into the rear seat of my patrol vehicle. I asked Mr. Karnes if he had anyone that could come get his truck, he advised me he did not. I contacted Central 911 to send me the next list rotation wrecker service. Hinesville Towing later arrived on scene and took possession of the truck.
I transported Mr. Karnes to the Liberty County Jail where the breath test was completed on an Intoxilyzer 9000. The results indicated his measured BrAC was (0.083). Mr. Karnes was released to booking staff without incident and was cited for DUI.
The rear seat of my patrol vehicle was searched before and after transport with no contraband found. My Axon cameras were active during this incident.
[End of Narrative]
All information is sourced directly from the official, public court database. Case history is organized and curated by The Georgia Gazette staff. The “What this means:” explanations are written by AI and reviewed by our staff before publishing.
Court records are subject to change at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors or omissions. Nothing here is legal advice. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
4/24/26
PAUL ROMERO KARNES BOOKED INTO CUSTODY
What this means: Paul Romero Karnes was booked — meaning formally processed into custody — on this date in Liberty County. He is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol. This is the starting point of the case in the Liberty County court system under case number STSR2026002332.
6/9/26
BOND SET FOR PAUL ROMERO KARNES
What this means: A bond was set for Paul Romero Karnes in Liberty County State Court on this date. Bond is a financial condition that, if met, allows a defendant to be released from custody while the case moves forward. The specific bond amount and conditions are not detailed in the available case notes.
6/30/26
DEFENSE FILES MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE IN PAUL ROMERO KARNES CASE
What this means: Attorney Andrew S. Johnson filed a Motion for Continuance on behalf of Paul Romero Karnes, asking the Liberty County State Court to reschedule an upcoming hearing to a later date. A continuance is simply a postponement — the defense is requesting more time before the next court appearance. The motion was dated May 19, 2026 and filed on June 30, 2026. The court has not yet ruled on the request based on available information.
6/30/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE FOR PAUL ROMERO KARNES
What this means: Attorney Andrew S. Johnson of the law firm Arnold & Stafford formally notified the Liberty County State Court that he is representing Paul Romero Karnes in this case. This filing, called an Entry of Appearance, puts the court and the prosecution on notice that all future documents and communications must go through Johnson’s office. It was submitted on May 12, 2026 and filed with the court on June 30, 2026.
8/18/26
CRIMINAL ARRAIGNMENT SCHEDULED FOR PAUL ROMERO KARNES
What this means: Paul Romero Karnes is scheduled to appear for a criminal arraignment at 9:00 AM on August 18, 2026 in Liberty County State Court. An arraignment is a formal court hearing where the defendant is officially informed of the charges against him — in this case, driving under the influence of alcohol — and enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.