Joy Hogan seeks trial continuance

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

LEXINGTON — Joy Hogan, the wife of Lawrence County Attorney Michael Hogan, both charged in a federal indictment with wire fraud involving delinquent tax and child support payments, has asked for another continuance in their trial.

Joy Hogan and Michael Hogan’s trial is scheduled for January 2022 in U.S. District Court, but she asked for a continuance to allow her new attorney time to review the case.

The motion, filed by her new attorney, Michael B. Fox of Olive Hill, also seeks an extension of time in which she “may file defensive motions, elect to file a motion for re-arraignment and receive credit for a timely acceptance of responsibility in this matter.”

The request noted that the deadline to file defensive motions was Dec. 17, when the motion was filed.

Fox said in the motion that he was recently retained as Joy Hogan’s 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 in August, but the date was continued to Jan. 18, 2022, due to the complexity of the case.

U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove had not ruled on the request as of press time Tuesday.