Welcome TO HAYS COUNTY!
Hays County is located in Central Texas. It was established in 1848. Our County Seat is San Marcos. Visit this
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SAN MARCOS, Texas — Lawanda Moreno pleaded guilty to arson with intent to damage a habitation (first-degree felony) and was sentenced by Judge Tracie Wright-Reneau on March 17, 2026, to 20 years in prison for a structure fire that occurred in a residential neighborhood in Kyle on Nov. 4, 2024. On the same day, Moreno was also convicted of healthcare fraud - $150,000-$300,000 (20 years), healthcare fraud - $2,500-$30,000 (2 years), and unauthorized insurance business (10 years), with the sentences to be served concurrently. Although Moreno denied having an insurance policy, investigators discovered that two policies for the residence were purchased seven and five days, respectively, before the fire. Further, while the eviction process was underway, the defendant told her property manager that she was skilled at obtaining free rent and threatened to damage the property if the eviction continued. Based on differential fire damage and burn patterns, investigators from the Hays County Fire Marshal’s Office determined that the fire originated inside a cabinet located between two windows in an upstairs bedroom. They concluded that the fire was caused by the intentional introduction of an open flame to readily ignitable materials. Agencies that participated in the investigation include: Hays County ESD No. 5 Kyle Fire Department; the Kyle Police Department; the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers; the Hays County Sheriff’s Office; the Buda Police Department; the Austin Police Department; the State Fire Marshal’s Office; and the Hays County District Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Hays County Assistant District Attorney Courtney Hansen. “The Hays County Fire Marshal’s Office extends its sincere appreciation for the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by our personnel and the assisting agencies throughout this investigation,” said Hays County Interim Fire Marshal Aaron Bauer. “The collaboration and coordination among these agencies were instrumental in the successful outcome of this investigation. We remain committed to working together to protect our community and ensure that incidents like this are thoroughly and responsibly addressed.” ###
KYLE, Texas — Hays County will host an in-person open house on April 23 to share updates and gather public input on planned improvements to FM 2001. The project includes safety improvements and roadway realignment between I-35 and SH 21 to improve safety and mobility in a rapidly growing area of the county. “Hays County is committed to a transparent planning process that keeps residents informed as road projects move forward. As our region continues to grow, it's important that the community understands how planned improvements to FM 2001 will support future transportation needs,” said Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe. The FM 2001 Improvements Open House will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, at Studio Estates Event Center, 6880 Goforth Road in Kyle. The open-house format allows residents to stop by at any time to review project information, learn about next steps and speak directly with the project team. “As our region grows, we are prioritizing infrastructure investments that keep pace with the needs of our residents. Improvements along FM 2001 are a key part of that effort, designed to improve mobility and make travel safer and more efficient,” said Commissioner Michelle Cohen. Meeting materials and opportunities to submit comments will also be available online at hayscoroads.com from April 23 through May 6. Project Overview The County and TxDOT have worked together to identify, design, and construct improvements along several segments of FM 2001. A portion of the project was completed in 2022, and the county is now preparing to move forward with the remaining improvements. The FM 2001 Improvements Project aims to support future transportation needs by enhancing safety and mobility within the growing region while respecting local priorities and environmental constraints. Additional details about the project can be found at hayscoroads.com. ###
SAN MARCOS , Texas – The Office of Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced the successful hosting of a multi-agency “Autism in Criminal Justice Settings” training. The training, held on March 27, 2026, centered on increasing understanding of autism spectrum conditions throughout the criminal justice system. Attendees included representatives from the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, Hays County Sheriff’s Office, Buda Police Department, Kyle Police Department and Hays County Juvenile Probation Department. Anne Jackson, a Bell County assistant county attorney, led the training and spoke about how raising a child on the autism spectrum raised her awareness of neurodiversity issues relevant to her work as a prosecutor. Her experiences allowed her to make more informed decisions in cases where victims, witnesses and defendants on the autism spectrum were frequently misunderstood by first responders, lawyers, probation officers and the courts. “It is incumbent upon lawyers in the system, whether we be defense, prosecutors or judges, to know what to do when we hear or read the word ‘autism’ in our work. We are the gatekeepers — the people with the power to affect people’s liberty and lives,” said Jackson. Participants also heard from Jackson’s son, Tres, who talked openly about his life on the autism spectrum and coordinated directly with participants on strategies for engaging with those on the autism spectrum at various criminal justice touchpoints. Tres noted, “Autism doesn’t care about your skin color, religion or sexuality. We try to be like everyone else, but there are going to be days when we struggle. When we call for help, I want us to be seen as someone in need ... and not any of these other things.” “We are proud to be the first prosecutor’s office in the State to host this training for our criminal justice partners,” stated Landon Campbell, division chief in the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. “We hope to use this training as a springboard to increase awareness of mental health and intellectual disability issues in our local criminal justice system and beyond.” The Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office thanks Anne Jackson, Tres Jackson and Bell County Attorney Jim Nichols for dedicating resources to this pivotal training. # # #
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