UPDATE: Williamsburg man accused of kidnapping, raping former girlfriend then threatening to burn her to undergoe mental evaluation

Although the case was waived to the Whitley Grand Jury, a man accused of kidnapping and raping his former girlfriend will undergo a mental evaluation to decide whether he can stand trial. 

William J. "Paco" Young, 31, of 1050 Buck Creek Road in Williamsburg, by way of his attorney Ron Findel, requested a mental evaluation Tuesday in Whitley County District Court at his preliminary hearing.

Young pled not guilty at his arraignment last Thursday to charges of kidnapping a former girlfriend and dousing her with gasoline before trying to rape her and threatening to set her on fire, according to court documents.

Deputy Dennis Foley charged Young with first-degree assault, first-degree rape, kidnapping an adult to sexually assault them, fourth-degree assault, and second-degree burglary.

Young pleaded not guilty to all charges except driving on a suspended or revoked operators license during his arraignment before District Judge Jason Price.

Price sentenced Young to 30 days in jail and $100 court costs on the driver’s license charge.

He set a $75,000 cash bond on the other charges, scheduled a June 29 preliminary hearing, and appointed the public defender’s office to represent Young.

The incident allegedly happened around midnight Wednesday. Witnesses alerted police about a burglary and kidnapping on Wilson Road including a description of the vehicle used to abduct the woman, Foley wrote on the arrest citation.

Foley observed a beige 2007 Ford in the area and conducted a traffic stop about 12:35 a.m. Young was driving the car and the victim was found inside it, according to the arrest citation.

The victim told police that Young came to her home, assaulted her outside it, then forced her into the car and drove to Dal Road where he attempted to rape her, according to the arrest citation.

The victim also told police that Young poured gasoline on her and "threatened to set her on fire," Foley wrote.
The victim and her clothing smelled of gasoline, according to the arrest citation.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Denny Shelley and Deputy Brett Reeves assisted with the investigation.

Judge Cathy Prewitt ordered Young to undergo his evaluation at Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center. According to its Website, KCPC is a correctional facility which is also licensed to provide inpatient psychiatric services. One of its main functions is to conduct pre-trial evaluations for people who have been arrested and are believed to have mental health problems.