Man arrested a dozen times on DWI charges appealing prison sentence in San Antonio

Carlos Faz, booking mug, April 1, 2012, dwi Carlos Faz, booking mug, April 1, 2012, dwi Image 1 of / 141 Caption Close Man arrested a dozen times on DWI charges appealing prison sentence in San Antonio 1 / 141 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — A habitual drunken driver who recently was handed a 10-year sentence for repeat drunken driving is appealing his punishment.

Carlos Faz, who has been arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated a dozen times in Bexar County over the past four decades, claimed in court paperwork filed last month that he wasn’t aware the plea agreement he signed meant he would be sent to prison.

“Had I known that a plea agreement would result in prison time, I would not have signed it,” he wrote.

State District Judge Kevin O’Connell, who handled Faz’ sentencing in April, recused himself from hearing the case on Friday. Now it will be reassigned to a different judge and placed back on a docket from there.

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A specific reason for the recusal wasn’t cited in court documents.

Faz’ plea deal with the state indicated his punishment would be decided by a judge, but would either be 10 years probation or 10 years in prison.

First Assistant District Attorney Woody Halstead said after reviewing the court transcript of the sentencing as well as other documents, the terms of the agreement are “pretty clear.”

Defense attorney Robert Gebbia, who is representing Faz on appeal, didn’t return a phone call Monday.

Gebbia wrote in a motion for a new trial that his client’s plea should be “rendered involuntary,” because he also wasn’t informed that an appeal bond was not a guarantee. Faz has been in custody since his sentencing in April.

A date for Faz’s next hearing had not been set as of Monday afternoon.

mcasady@express-news.net