Hunt County Sheriff Deputies arrested 34-year-old Hunter McDaniel James of Princeton on November 29, 2023, charging him with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. James, a familiar face to local authorities, had his bond set at $200,000.
This arrest follows a previous incident in January 2022, when James faced a similar charge of intoxicated manslaughter with a vehicle. A grand jury indicted him after a fatal crash that claimed the life of 21-year-old Alaina Portillo of Wolfe City on January 21, 2021, along U.S. 69.
During the earlier incident, DPS investigators reported that Portillo was driving a northbound Toyota Camry when her vehicle was struck by a southbound Jeep Wrangler driven by James at the 242-mile marker at 2:35 a.m. The collision occurred when James, for an unknown reason, veered into the northbound lane. Portillo lost her life in the tragic accident.
James initially posted bail in January 2022, securing his release from jail on a $200,000 bond. However, in April 2023, he faced further legal consequences as the intoxicated manslaughter charge was upgraded to murder. Subsequently, James was arrested again, and this time his bond was set at $300,000.
Adding to his troubled history, James has multiple DWI arrests in Collins County and in San Marcos, Texas.
