Houchens enters guilty plea to drug charges

By BRAD DICKERSON
Glasgow Daily Times

GLASGOW May 13, 2008 04:49 pm

— A Glasgow man, charged with marijuana cultivation after authorities discovered an elaborate grow operation on his property in October, pleaded guilty to the charges on Monday.
David Houchens, 37, also entered guilty pleas to the charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with physical evidence. The commonwealth recommended a five-year sentence on the felony charges and 12 months on the misdemeanors to run concurrent for a total of five years.
Houchens will also have to forfeit all weapons and cash seized.
In April, Houchens testified during the murder trial of William R. “Billy” Haynes. It was alleged that the two were partners in the marijuana growing business.
Police believe Haynes shot Luis Rodriguez, 45, after Rodriguez and three accomplices tried to break into Houchens’ indoor marijuana-growing site on the night of Oct. 18.
During the trial, Houchens testified that he and Haynes loaded the body into the back of his pickup truck, drove it to a bridge and dumped it into Barren River Lake.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Karen Davis told Judge Phil Patton on Monday that Houchens had inquired into the truck’s return since it was taken into evidence for Haynes’ murder trial.
Davis added that it had been more than 30 days since the trial’s conclusion and neither Haynes nor his attorney planned to file an appeal, thereby allowing the truck to go back to Houchens.
Final sentencing for Houchens is set for June 9.