Following Treatment, Kenton Man Found Competent to Stand Trial on Aggravated Arson Charges

The trial of a Kenton man who is facing multiple counts of aggravated arson is set for this summer.

35-year-old Jeffrey L. Mowery was indicted on six counts of aggravated arson stemming from a fire he allegedly set in April of 2024 at 318 East Columbus Street in Kenton, putting six people at risk.

According to the Bill of Particulars filed in the case, the property is an apartment building that has an upstairs and downstairs apartment.

He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charges in July of 2024, and after an evaluation, Dr. Shannon Porter, a Psychologist from the Forensic Diagnostic Center in Mansfield, concluded that Mowery was not capable of understanding the nature and objective of the legal proceedings against him, and he would be unable to assist in his trial.

Hardin County Common Pleas Court Judge Steve Christopher ordered that Mowery undergo treatment at the Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital given the strong possiblity that he would become competent to stand trial within one year.

In April of this year after another evaluation, the Court accepted the opinion from Dr. Shannon that Mowery is currently capable of standing trial.

The two day jury trial is set to take place July 1 and 2 in Hardin County Common Pleas Court.