Houck seeks change of venue for trial related to roofing shingle thefts

NC GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT

Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 — Brooks Houck is asking a Nelson County Circuit Court judge to consider a change of venue in his trial on theft charges connected with allegations he stole more than 230 bundles of roofing shingles worth thousands of dollars from the Lowe’s in Bardstown.

Houck was indicted in July 2018 by a Nelson County grand jury on four felony charges and one misdemeanor charge related to the theft of roofing shingles.

BROOKS HOUCK

Houck’s attorney told the court that due to the publicity Houck received in the case of his girlfriend Crystal Rogers, the Bardstown mother of five who went missing in July 2015, it would be difficult for Houck to receive a fair trial in Nelson County. Houck was the last person to see Rogers before she disappeared. She is believed to be dead, and Houck has been named as the sole suspect in her disappearance.

Houck’s connection to the Rogers case has been highlighted in local, state and even national media through two national cable network TV programs that aired earlier this year.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Terry Geoghegan told WDRB TV that his concern with the change of venue was if the distance would be so great that it would be a burden for witnesses to appear for the court proceedings at a distant venue.

Circuit Judge Jack Seay has scheduled a hearing for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, at which time he may rule on the change of venue request.

ROOFING SHINGLE THEFTS. According to the indictment, Houck allegedly took roofing shingles from Lowe’s on several different dates in April 2018.

According to the indictment, on April 3, 2018, Houck allegedly took a total of 100 bundles of roofing shingles belonging to Lowe’s without paying for them; on April 4, 2018, he allegedly took 39 bundles of roofing shingles; and on April 14, 2018, he allegedly took 86 bundles of roofing shingles from Lowe’s having a value of more than $500 but less than $10,000. Due to the value of the shingles, the charges are considered felonies.

The indictment further alleges that on April 4, 2018, Houck took nine bundles of roofing shingles without paying for them, having a value of less than $500, which is classified as a misdemeanor.

Editor’s Note: The indictment of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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