A McMinnville man who allegedly caused a barn fire and pointed a shotgun at passing vehicles had his jury trial date set in Circuit Court last week. 

Marty Lynn Rhea, 46, was arrested after reportedly admitting to setting a barn on fire and pointing a shotgun at a passing vehicle. He is charged with arson and vandalism of property. 

According to the warrant, on May 3, a barn on Northcutt’s Cove Road belonging to Melody Lovell caught fire. When officers arrived on the scene, the barn was fully engulfed in flames and the barn was a total loss. The total loss estimate of damage to the barn is $60,000.

Officers received information of a male suspect in the area. Prior to the fire, officers also received a call regarding a man with a firearm in the same area. 

Deputy Elizabeth Hodge and Deputy Justin Cowell were dispatched to the area in search of an armed suspect walking the roadway. Once they arrived, the deputies located a male, later identified as Rhea, walking in the roadway empty-handed. Rhea was detained and searched. He was Mirandized and questioned about pointing a weapon at vehicles. According to the warrant, Rhea admitted to carrying the shotgun, but reportedly tossed it into a ditch before deputies arrived. The shotgun was later located and Rhea was taken to the Warren County Sheriff’s Department to speak with investigator Jason Rowland.  

After speaking with Rowland, Rhea reportedly admitted he did lift the shotgun and point it in the direction of a passing vehicle. During the interview, Rhea also reportedly admitted to setting the barn fire. 

Rhea’s jury trial is scheduled for Feb. 8-9.