Clark man found competent for arson trial
A Winchester man charged with setting his apartment building on fire has been found competent to stand trial.
Frank Rayburn, 56, of 41 Buckner St., is facing arson and first-degree wanton endangerment charges for the January 2017 fire.
According to court records, Clark Circuit Judge William Clouse presided over Rayburn’s competency hearing Wednesday afternoon and found him competent to be tried for his charges.
In this order, Clouse noted the examining doctor from the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center determined Rayburn was able to understand the court proceedings and process, and was also able to assist his attorney with his defense.
The fire was reported shortly after 2 a.m. Jan. 13, 2017, at 41 Buckner St. Rayburn, who lived in Apt. 4., told Winchester Police in an interview he spread papers throughout his apartment and lit them.
Three other people were in Rayburn’s apartment at the time.
While at the scene of the fire, Rayburn told police “he was tired of people messing with him and taking his things.”
Other residents told police Rayburn said, “I’m burning them out. I’m tired of them robbing me.”
No one was injured in the fire, but the four-apartment building was heavily damaged. When firefighters arrived, it was burning on the first and second floors at the rear of the building, and eventually spread into the attic and roof.
Rayburn is due back in Clark Circuit Court Aug. 9 for a pre-trial conference. He remains in the Clark County Detention Center on a $50,000 cash bond.