Commonwealth’s continuance approved for Nicholas Houck trial

Nicholas Houck’s trial on a Class D Felony Perjury charge will now be heard in 2027. Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III granted the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office motion for a continuance during a hearing in Nelson Circuit Court Wednesday, moving the start of the trial to February 8, 2027. Simms noted that he checked with the court in Owen County to verify that the date is available. 10th Judicial Circuit Commonwealth’s Attorney Kyle Williamson said he made the motion because it is important for the Commonwealth present their case chronologically, and former Commonwealth’s Attorney Terry Geoghegan needs to be the first called witness, but because of existing travel plans he would not be available until the last day of the previously scheduled dates. Houck’s defense attorney Michael Ferguson objected to the continuance, arguing that since most of the evidence the Commonwealth plans to submit is video recordings he didn’t understand why Geoghegan couldn’t record a deposition. Meanwhile, Simms gave the Commonwealth 20 days to respond to Ferguson’s motion to dismiss the indictment, in which Ferguson argued the Commonwealth has failed to establish that Houck made a material false statement in the grand jury testimonies cited by the Commonwealth, and that they failed to establish that Houck’s statement had an impact on the proceedings. Simms also gave the defense time to respond to the Commonwealth’s response. The court will hear arguments on the motion at a pre-trial conference set for October 22.