Alexis Fowler -

Alexis Fowler

Associate

Biography

Ms. Fowler is an attorney specializing in white-collar and general criminal defense.

Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Ms. Fowler earned her undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University (TCU) before attending Southern Methodist University (SMU) Dedman School of Law, where she graduated cum laude. Upon her acceptance to SMU, she was awarded the Dean’s Merit Scholarship in recognition of her academic achievements. She also earned a place on the Pro Bono Honor Roll for completing over 200 hours of public service, including advocacy work for CASA and Catholic Charities.

While at SMU, Ms. Fowler honed her legal skills as a Student Attorney in SMU’s Criminal Law Clinic, where she represented indigent defendants in Dallas County. Her leadership and performance led to her appointment as a Chief of the clinic, where she supervised and mentored fellow students while continuing to provide essential legal services to the community. Additionally, she served as Secretary of the Criminal Law Club, further showcasing her commitment to both legal excellence and community engagement.

Ms. Fowler began her professional career with Daniel K. Hagood P.C. in 2019 and joined the firm full-time after graduating from SMU in 2022. She became part of McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans in 2025 through the merger with Daniel K. Hagood P.C. Ms. Fowler brings to her practice a strong foundation in criminal defense, sharp analytical skills, and an unwavering commitment to her clients.

Known for her exceptional communication and deep empathy, Ms. Fowler works tirelessly to understand her clients’ needs and protect their rights. Her attention to detail, strategic thinking, and around-the-clock commitment to her clients’ cases makes her a trusted advocate in complex legal matters.

Beyond her professional achievements, Ms. Fowler remains actively engaged in her community, including mentoring students at the Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School and supporting other local causes.

Professional Associations and Memberships

Women in White Collar Defense Association, Member

Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Member

Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Member

Dallas Bar Association, Member

New York State Bar Association, Member

Texas Bar College, Member

Location

Dallas (MAin)

3710 Rawlins Street
Suite 1600
Dallas, TX 75219

PRACTICE AREAS

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor (2022)

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science (2017)

PROSPER ISD PARENTS QUESTION DISTRICT RESPONSE TO BUS DRIVER ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING STUDENTS

December 15, 2025

Author: Rebecca Lopez with WFAA Watch the interview here. PROSPER, Texas — Parents of two young girls who say they were repeatedly sexually assaulted by a Prosper ISD school bus driver are speaking out about what they describe as serious failures by the district — including delayed notification to families and promised safety changes they say were never fully implemented. The parents asked that they not be identified to protect their children, who were just elementary school age at the time of the abuse. In a lawsuit filed in 2023, the girls — identified only as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 — allege former bus driver Frank Paniagua assaulted them repeatedly during the 2021–2022 school year. According to the lawsuit, Paniagua would wait until other students exited the bus, then assault the girls, sometimes holding one child back so he could take her to the rear of the bus. Attorneys say the abuse occurred over several months and was captured on bus surveillance video. How the abuse was discovered The girls’ mother said the abuse came to light after their grandmother noticed troubling comments about gift cards offered by the bus driver. When the mother later questioned the girls again, they disclosed what had been happening. Prosper ISD police reviewed surveillance video from the bus in May 2022. Paniagua was arrested two days later and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and indecency with a child. Paniagua later died after jumping from the second floor of the Collin County Jail while awaiting trial. Concerns about delayed notifications Attorneys for the family say more than 100 days passed after Paniagua’s arrest before Prosper ISD publicly acknowledged the allegations — a delay parents say may have prevented other potential victims from being identified. At a packed school board meeting, Prosper ISD parent Morgan Grahovec, a child psychologist whose daughter attended the same school as the victims, told trustees that delays in notifying parents can have serious consequences. “Children who are victims of abuse need to be identified and interviewed as soon as possible because memory fades over time,” Grahovec said. “The longer you wait, it’s harder to get a child to report abuse accurately.” Parents at those meetings called for Superintendent Holly Ferguson’s resignation, arguing district leaders should have acted sooner and communicated more transparently. Ferguson did not step down, instead promising changes to safety protocols. District response and former statement In an earlier written statement to WFAA, Prosper ISD said it took appropriate action once allegations surfaced: “We are horrified that an employee violated the trust of our families and students, as Prosper ISD’s foremost priority is to protect our students’ safety and well-being at all times. We strongly condemn the actions of any adult who would cause mental or physical harm to a child, and we do not tolerate such behavior.” The district has declined additional comment, citing pending litigation. Disputed claims about safety changes Prosper ISD previously told parents it would implement additional safeguards, including increased supervision during bus drop-offs, a volunteer “bus buddy” program, and improved monitoring of bus surveillance video. But the parents and their attorneys say those changes were not consistently put in place. Attorney Levi McCathern says the district does not regularly review bus surveillance footage — even though video captured the alleged abuse in this case. “You would think the first thing you would do after this happens is change your monitoring program,” McCathern said. “They don’t monitor them at all.” McCathern and co-counsel Kristin Hecker say the lawsuit is aimed at forcing policy changes rather than seeking financial gain. Questions about oversight and leadership The case has also raised broader concerns about district leadership and oversight. Prosper ISD’s school board president later resigned in an unrelated child abuse case, further shaking confidence among some parents. Families have also questioned the independence of the district’s internal review, noting that the law firm hired to investigate the district’s response is also defending Prosper ISD in the lawsuit. “All we want is an independent investigation,” McCathern said. Parents push for accountability and change The parents say their children remain enrolled in Prosper ISD, but they continue to press for reforms they believe could prevent similar abuse. “We want justice for our kids,” the girls’ mother said. “But we also want changes to happen at the district so that this doesn’t happen to other children.”