John Betancourt, a member of the Amarillo College Board of Regents and a candidate for Texas Senate District 31, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, second offense, according to Randall County Jail records.
Betancourt was booked into the Randall County Jail on January 2, 2026. Details of the arrest, including any statements from law enforcement, have not yet been released.
Betancourt has a history of alcohol-related offenses. While serving on the Amarillo Independent School District Board of Trustees, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DWI in 2017. Court records indicate that on September 8, 2017, Betancourt entered a guilty plea in Randall County Court at Law No. 1.
According to county jail records, Betancourt was initially arrested by the Amarillo Police Department on December 19, 2015, for the DWI charge. He was released the following day after posting $1,500 in surety bonds. He also paid $932.10 to the court. At the time, Betancourt referred to the incident as "old news."
In addition, Betancourt was arrested in May 2012 on a charge of public intoxication. He was released the same day after posting a $500 surety bond, and the case was closed three days later on May 7, 2012, according to court documents.
Betancourt announced his campaign for Texas Senate District 31 in November 2025. He currently serves on the Amarillo College Board of Regents and previously held a position on the Amarillo ISD Board of Trustees.
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