Update: Hart Galleries

The last news we had of this sad saga is the Harts were each recently sentenced to 14 years in prison as they plead guilty to misapplication of fiduciary property of more than $200,000, a first-degree felony (click HERE to read previous post. Brian Rogers of the Houston Chronicle is now reporting that a new judge is allowing a trial, after the guilty plea and previous sentencing of 14 years. The Harts thought they were going to get probation, not prison, and certainly not 14 years each. Texas State District Court Judge Vann Culp refused to explain the decision.

Rogers reports After their guilty plea, the couple agreed to leave punishment up to then newly-elected state District Judge Randy Roll following a pre-sentence investigation. The investigation included 160 letters from prominent Houstonians asking Roll to consider giving the couple probation. He sentenced them to 14 years in prison.

“They thought they were going to get probation, and when they got prison time, they fired their lawyers and started blaming everyone,” prosecutor Markay Stroud said in court. “Now, they want what my children would call ‘a do over.’ ”

Stroud, who negotiated the original plea agreement and will have to start the case over, seemed stunned after state District Judge Vann Culp’s ruling.

“Given the evidence I heard, I’m very surprised by the decision,” the prosecutor said.

She declined to comment further, saying it now was a pending case. She previously had said the couple stole more than $4 million.

The Harts’ attorneys claimed victory after the ruling and said they were preparing for the new trials.

To read the full articl, click HERE.