County Attorney, Wife Granted Continuance in Federal Trial

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

LOUISA – A federal judge last week granted a continuance in the trial of Lawrence County Attorney Michael Hogan and his wife, Joy Hogan.

Joy Hogan filed a motion in December asking for a continuance in the trial, scheduled to begin Jan. 18, saying her new attorney needed time to review the case.

U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove granted the motion Jan. 4 and rescheduled the trial for April 4.

“The Court finds that the ends of justice served by the granting of such continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and the Defendant in a speedy trial,” Van Tatenhove said in his order.

The Hogans are both charged in a federal indictment with wire fraud involving delinquent tax and child support payments.

Joy Hogan’s new attorney, Michael B. Fox of Olive Hill, said in his December motion that he was recently retained as her counsel and filed an entry of appearance on Dec. 14, necessitated by Mark Wohlander’s withdrawal as her attorney due to medical issues.

“The undersigned has received the discovery in this case from Attorney Wohlander but has not yet had the opportunity to review the majority of the discovery,” Fox said in the motion. “Without an adequate opportunity to review, investigate or consider discovery counsel is unable to determine whether defensive motions are appropriate or necessary, or to advise his client how to proceed in the matter.

“Given the seriousness of the crime and the length of a potential sentence of incarceration the additional time requested is necessary to fully evaluate the consequences of a plea or proceeding to trial.”

Fox said that federal prosecutors and Michael Hogan’s lawyer did not object to the continuance motion.

The Hogans were originally scheduled to stand trial last August, but the date was continued to Jan. 18, 2022, due to the complexity of the case.