Thomas Wayne Houchens. Photo courtesy of the Barren County Detention Center.
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Thomas Wayne Houchens and Jeffrey Eldon Dugard are both included in the recent batch of Barren County grand jury indictments. Both men are charged with arson.
Houchens, 40, has been indicted for second-degree arson, first-degree criminal mischief and first-degree persistent felony offender. In November 2024, Houchens was arrested by Barren County Sheriff’s deputies after “intentionally” setting fire to a residential garage at 3219 Lyon School Road, the indictment states.
Houchens has previously served jail time for arson, according to the indictment. He was sentenced in February of 2015 for an arson he committed in August of 2014. In 2007 he was sentenced on a litany of charges, including third degree terroristic threatening, and first-degree fleeing or evading police. The prior convictions led to the first-degree persistent felony offender charge this time.
His case has a $20,000 cash bond.
Jeffery Dugard
Dugard, 59, has been indicted on charges of third-degree arson, first-degree criminal mischief and third-degree criminal trespassing. He was arrested on Nov. 26, 2024 by Glasgow police officers when he allegedly set fire to a vehicle owned by Lessenberry Do-It Center.
Dugard’s case has a $2,500 cash bond.
Both cases were assigned to Commonwealth’s Attorney John Gardner and both cases are set to be appear in circuit court at 10 a.m. on Jan. 9.
Second-degree arson usually involves setting fire to an unoccupied structure whereas third-degree arson, which is a lesser felony, usually involves setting fire to property deemed “less significant” than a structure like, in this case, a car.
The 33-page indictments come from the last grand jury session filed with the Barren County Circuit Court Clerk on Dec. 18.
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