Festus, MO – On August 21, 2025, the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office filed a felony complaint against a Festus man has been charged with felony driving while intoxicated after authorities say he was observed driving erratically and later admitted to consuming “probably too much” alcohol.

Jason Allen Batchelor, age 51, of Festus is charged with driving while intoxicated as a persistent offender, a class E felony under Missouri law. The offense occurred on March 30, 2025, near Interstate 55 and McNutt Street in Jefferson County.

According to a probable cause statement, a law enforcement officer observed Batchelor’s vehicle following another vehicle too closely before slowing to well below the posted speed limit. After the lead vehicle exited the roadway, Batchelor’s car continued at approximately 36 mph in a 60 mph zone and crossed onto the shoulder with both passenger-side tires.

During the traffic stop, the officer noted a strong odor of alcohol and observed that Batchelor had slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes. When asked how many drinks he had consumed, Batchelor replied, “Probably too much,” and rated himself a “4” on a scale from 0 to 10, with 10 being the most intoxicated he had ever felt.

Batchelor reportedly stumbled as he exited his vehicle and refused to perform field sobriety tests or submit to a breath test. He also declined a chemical test after being read Missouri’s implied consent law.

Court records show Batchelor has two prior alcohol-related driving convictions. He was found guilty of driving while intoxicated in 2001 in Springfield Municipal Court for an incident that occurred in November 2000. He was again convicted in 2006 in Jefferson County Circuit Court for driving with excessive blood alcohol content in 2005.

Because Batchelor is classified as a persistent offender, Missouri law requires he serve a minimum of 30 days in jail before becoming eligible for probation or parole if convicted.

Authorities also cited concerns for public safety due to Batchelor’s prior convictions.

Paul Barnard Editor

Paul Barnard is the editor of the Twin City News. Barnard Graduated from Norwich University, America's oldest private military college, with a B.S. in Communications and Media Technology. There he studied journalism and marketing. For years after, Barnard was in law enforcement and gained experience in the Special Investigations Unit and publishing all the department's press releases. As Barnard's family grew, he moved on to start Twin City News.

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