Terms of change of venue in Nicholas Houck case approved

Nicholas Houck was back in Nelson Circuit Court Friday for a pre-trial conference in his Class D Felony Perjury case. Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III approved the tendered agreement between the defense and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for a change of venue in the case. Under that agreement, the November 9 trial will be held in Owen County, but all pre-trial motions will continue to be heard in Nelson County. The judge heard arguments regarding the defense’s motion on a bill of particulars requesting the judge order the commonwealth to identify evidence that will be offered at trial to prove “that there is: a material false statement made by the defendant, and also that the defendant does not believe.” The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office submitted a response to the court Friday morning prior to the hearing which Houck’s defense attorney Michael Ferguson asked for time to review. Ferguson said he was asking the commonwealth to directly point to where in their submitted evidence they believe a false statement was made. Commonwealth’s Attorney Kyle Williamson said Houck gave conflicting testimony in grand jury testimony given on July 15 and 22, 2015, and August 16, 2023. Simms asked the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to provide a more specific response to the defense’s questions within seven days. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for September 16.