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Case against doctor dismissed; husband receives 7-year sentence

From The Times Tribune /Timothy Wyatt -

A Barbourville doctor facing drug-related charges had the case against her dismissed Thursday February 28, 2019 as part of an agreement with prosecutors, though her husband was sentenced to seven years in prison for charges stemming from the case.


Sherri Hogan, 58, and Dennis Hogan, 51, appeared separately in Knox Circuit Court for formal sentencing Thursday, where Dennis Hogan was the first to stand before Judge Michael Caperton concerning two counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, which he entered a guilty plea to last month in exchange for an agreement with prosecutors. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors recommended that Dennis Hogan serve three years for one count and four years for the other, with each sentence to be served consecutively — or at the same time — for a total of seven years.


Judge Caperton ruled to follow the recommendations set forth by prosecutors, including dismissing the case against Sherri Hogan, who faced one count of conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance.


Sherri and Dennis Hogan were indicted in July 2018 by a Knox County grand jury, formally charging them on the initial charges above. The indictment alleged that Dennis Hogan knowingly and unlawfully sold less than 10 dosage units of Oxycodone to a cooperating witness with the Knox County Sheriff’s Department within a 90-day period.


The pair’s sentencing in the case was delayed on three other occasions, with the first coming Feb. 1, where Dennis Hogan’s attorney, Billy Taylor, informed the court that a pre-sentence investigation report for Dennis Hogan was not available because he was not able to complete the investigation due to health issues. The report is a vital document that provides detailed information on a defendant’s behavior/background before a judge makes a decision about sentencing.


At that time, prosecutors requested that Dennis Hogan be placed in custody until the investigation could be completed and a new date was set for Feb. 15.


However, on the new date — which was held in Laurel Circuit Court to accommodate the quick scheduling — Dennis Hogan was not present. Taylor informed the court that Dennis Hogan had been admitted to Baptist Health Corbin for treatment. Another sentencing was set for later that day but was again reset when Dennis Hogan was not released from the hospital in time. A final continuance occurred Feb. 22 due to Dennis Hogan being too ill to be present in court.


Sherri Hogan previously had a hearing set to take place with a medical licensing board last week, though it had been set in anticipation of the case against her being dismissed beforehand. According to Sherri Hogan's attorney, Conrad Cessna, that hearing has been continued and reset for late March.


Dennis Hogan was also arraigned during Thursday’s proceedings on a separate case concerning charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance and public intoxication – controlled substance. His attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and a follow-up pretrial conference date was set for April 5.


Dennis Hogan currently remains jailed in the Knox County Detention Center.

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