06/05/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATTORNEY SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR MISAPPLICATION OF FIDUCIARY PROPERTY AND EXPLOITATION OFFENSES AGAINST SIX CHILDEN WHO LOST THEIR PARENTS IN MURDER/SUICIDE
KENDALL COUNTY, TEXAS — On March 20, 2026 defendant and former attorney Karen Hogan plead guilty to Misapplication of Fiduciary/Financial Property of $300,000 or more, a first-degree felony, and to Exploitation of a Child/Elderly/Disabled person, a third-degree felony. In exchange for her guilty pleas, the state agreed to cap punishment at 20 years and go before the judge to determine punishment at a sentencing hearing.
The case arose from Hogan’s misuse of estate funds while serving in a fiduciary capacity for six children connected to the estates of their parents Jason and Emily Evans. On December 31, 2021, with the children inside the family home, Jason Evans murdered his wife Emily and then committed su***de in the attached garage. The youngest child was four and the oldest child, who is also special needs, was fifteen. The children all went to live with their maternal grandmother. Hogan was the attorney appointed by the probate court as the temporary administrator of the estate. Investigators determined that Hogan improperly took and used estate funds that were intended for the benefit and protection of the surviving children. Hogan stole nearly all the money from the estate in the amount of $542,200. Since Hogan was required to carry a bond, some of the funds were paid by the bonding company back to the estate. However, an outstanding balance of $189,678.50 is still owed to the estate.
Judge Kirsten Cohoon of the 451st District Court presided over the sentencing hearing Monday, June 1, 2026. At the sentencing hearing, Kendall County Probation Officer Jake Meadows testified about the presentence investigation done after the defendant’s guilty plea. In his conversations with the defendant, she was either unwilling or unable to provide clear information about her finances, which included a Monte Vista home in San Antonio valued at approximately $575,000 and a $7000 a month pension. Meadows reported Hogan accepted guilt for the most part, but also blamed her actions on the loss of loved ones, her mental declination due to a brain tumor, and the probate judge because the case was assigned to Hogan despite knowing about the brain tumor.
Kendall County Sheriff's Office, Lieutenant Butch Matjeka testified that during the investigation, Hogan confessed to him, and stated that she fell victim to a "sweetheart scam" by someone that she met online and believed she was in a romantic relationship. Matjeka confirmed that the money stolen was all wired to different places, including places and individuals in California and other places that were not connected to the estate. The sheriff's office tried to locate the person Hogan stated she sent the money to, but the information she had on the individual was false and they were unable to locate him. Prosecutor, Alessandra Deike asked if Hogan ever asked about the children or expressed remorse. Matjeka stated no and that she seemed more concerned for herself.
Judge Sandy Bryan Marion testified that Hogan was a good and reliable attorney for many years until this incident. Judge Marion was aware of the brain tumor, however many months prior to the appointment, Hogan texted her to let her know that the brain tumor had been completely removed and the doctor had cleared her to drive and return to work. At the time of the appointment, Judge Marion stated Hogan could have refused the appointment, and Hogan never indicated that anything existed that would affect her ability to do her job.
The defense had several members of the defendant's church community, an attorney colleague, and retired Probate Judge Polly Jackson Spencer testify. They testified that over the many years that they knew the defendant, this was very out of character for her, she was known for her honesty, and she had a distinguished legal career up until this point. The defense also submitted financial records to show Hogan's ability to pay the restitution.
In closing, Hogan's attorney asked Judge Cohoon for leniency and to grant the defendant probation. Defense argued this was her first offense, Hogan was not a danger to the community, she had a distinguished legal career, and this occurred at one of the most vulnerable times in her life. Defense argued that Hogan has the ability to pay the restitution, and probation would be the best way for the children to receive restitution.
Criminal District Attorney Nicole Bishop closed for the state and asked for 20 years. Bishop argued that Hogan only showed a concern for herself, made no effort to pay restitution, and provided no expert medical opinion about a diminished mental capacity. Bishop said a message needs to be sent to anyone else thinking about doing something like this. No one should expect to get probation after doing something like this for the sole purpose of paying restitution. They can pay restitution to prove their efforts to a parole board. Bishop read parts of Hogan’s apology letter to the court, calling it self-serving and disingenuous. Bishop also stated "I was hoping I would feel better about the cap of 20 after this hearing. I don't feel better, I feel worse." Bishop named all of the victims and said the mother would be heartbroken to know her children had to endure this additional hardship.
Bishop finished closing argument with the following statements: "If she really cared about those kids, she would have paid the restitution immediately, and she did not. I have zero confidence, and I don't believe this court should have any confidence, that she will pay that money back. Because she was playing games with the probation officer and just happened to have memory problems when it came to her finances. Nothing else. Just her finances. She's playing games. And you know what the prize is for playing those games? Go to prison. She should not be holding restitution hostage for a chance to get probation. She should have paid the restitution because it's the right thing to do, if she actually cared about what she did. I do not believe these games are over if she gets put on probation." Bishop also promised that if Hogan did not pay the restitution while she was in prison, Bishop would make sure to let the parole board know that she had the means to pay it at sentencing and did not.
Judge Kirsten Cohoon of the 451st District Court sentenced Hogan to 20 years; the max allowed with the cap, on the first-degree felony and to the max 10 years on the third-degree felony in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. In addition to the prison sentence, the Court assessed a $5,000 fine and ordered Hogan to pay restitution in the amount of $189,678.50. Hogan voluntarily relinquished her law license.
At sentencing Judge Cohoon addressed the defendant and told her "Mrs. Hogan, you owed an obligation to the court, the community, and to our system of justice. I can't even understand how it is that you went to that bank account and withdrew those funds. This is the hardest case I've presided over, because I can't understand such a break of trust to your clients and to the whole system we work for. You haven't made any attempts thus far to make the children somewhat whole. I'm disgusted because the first thing that should have been done was to try in some form to right a wrong against kids who have suffered immensely, and then one more event of suffering from a person they should trust. Mrs. Hogan, make these children whole again."
District Attorney Nicole Bishop said "I sincerely apologize to the community and to the victims for the plea agreement that was made in this case with a cap of 20 years on the sentence. For someone from my own profession, an attorney, who was put in a position of trust to steal from such vulnerable children is despicable. However, to come to her sentencing hearing without the full restitution when she has the means, show no remorse, and to make empty excuses for her actions is absolutely abhorrent. If I had known then what I learned at the sentencing hearing, that deal would never have been made."
The investigation was conducted by the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office and lead prosecutor on the case was Assistant Criminal District Attorney Alessandra Deike.
