Thomas Houchens, middle, appeared in Barren County Circuit Court on March 31 where his attorney made a request to reduce his bond, which is currently $20,000 cash. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
A mental evaluation has been requested in a Barren County arson case.
Thomas Wayne Houchens, 40, was arrested by Barren County sheriff’s deputies in 2024 after he allegedly set fire to a garage on Lyon School Road. The garage was deemed a total loss, according to the report at the time. He was indicted in January 2025 on charges of second-degree arson, first-degree criminal mischief and first-degree persistent felony offender.
Houchens will undergo an evaluation to determine “whether or not [he] is competent to stand trial,” a court order signed by Barren County Circuit Judge John Alexander stated. The evaluation will be performed by the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center, according to court records, and the evaluation can be performed by “telemedicine.”
His next pretrial conference is scheduled for Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.
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