AUSTIN (November 30, 2009)—A former state district judge who now serves as the Texas Youth Commission’s ombudsman is named in a felony indictment that was unsealed Monday that stems from an alleged attempt to smuggle a knife into a TYC facility.

If convicted, former Dallas County State District Judge Catherine S. Evans could be sentenced to as much as 10 years in prison.

No other details were immediately available, according to Gina DeBottis, director of special unit that prosecutes prison crimes statewide.

Evans says it was "a regrettable mistake" that she forgot a Swiss Army knife was in her handbag.

In October, Evans was barred from entering TYC youth prisons because she was under criminal investigation that she twice tried to smuggle in weapons, prescription drugs and cash, which is strictly prohibited.

TYC spokesman Jim Hurley declined comment then on whether Evans may have been trying to stage her own sting operation to test agency security.

Evans is a former chairwoman of the TYC Advisory Board, a former state district judge and a former commissioner of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission.

She volunteers with the Mercy Street Youth Mentoring Ministry, is a former secretary for the Mothers’ Against Drunk Driving National Board of Directors, and a past member of the Dallas County Juvenile Advisory Board.

She holds bachelors and law degrees from Southern Methodist University.

Gov. Rick Perry appointed Evans to be the TYC ombudsman in September.

The ombudsman reports on TYC facilities and evaluates them to protect children's rights.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who’s challenging Perry in the 2010 GOP primary, said the governor should ask Evans to step down.

“It is clear that the ombudsman cannot pursue her work when she is currently barred from touring the very Youth Commission lockups she is charged with overseeing,” Hutchison said.