KXAN weathercaster Jim Spencer has reportedly been arrested for DUI.
While the news was first reported by FTVLive, based on a screenshot of a man named Jimmy Wayne Spencer getting booked into Travis County Jail on Monday, neither the NBC affiliate nor any other news outlet in Austin has reported the news.
The Travis County Sheriff’s Department confirmed with TVSpy that “Jimmy Wayne Spencer was booked into the Travis County Jail at 12:33 am on July 17, 2023. He was charged with Driving While Intoxicated and bail was set at $3,000. He was released from custody at 2:49 pm the same day on a personal recognizance bond. The arresting agency was Austin Police Department.”
We asked KXAN general manager Eric Lassberg about the report. We will update as soon as we hear back.
Spencer Mugshot
FTVLive also posted a mugshot as possible proof that something was awry with Spencer.
Spencer joined KXAN in 1990, becoming the first weathercaster on Austin’s first hour-long morning newscast. In 1993, he became chief weathercaster, taking over the evening broadcasts until his semi-retirement on March 1, 2021. He continues to work part-time.
It is worth noting that some stations are transparent about the legal troubles of their employees and it seems odd that other stations in the market have not reported anything yet. Could there be another Jimmy Wayne Spencer in Austin who is facing legal troubles?