Bowling Green man sentenced to 20 years following Wendy’s fire

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A Bowling Green man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison following a fire over a year ago at an area Wendy’s.

According to court documents, 41-year-old Michael Sheehan of Bowling Green was sentenced Tuesday, April 29 in Warren Circuit Court for charges of second-degree arson, third-degree burglary, first-degree criminal mischief, tampering with physical evidence and intimidating a participant in the legal process.

In total, court documents state Sheehan was been ordered to serve 20 years concurrently.

Court documents state a guilty plea was entered for Sheehan on the charges above in February 2025.

In March 2024, the Bowling Green Fire Department responded to a fire that occurred at the Wendy’s on U.S. 31-W Bypass. The fire caused the location to close its doors for months.

Police say Sheehan illegally entered the Wendy’s restaurant and later returned, setting fire to the restaurant and fleeing the scene.

The fire reportedly caused over $1,000,000 in damage.

A charge of theft by unlawful taking or disposition all others between $1,000 and $10,000 was dismissed in February 2025, according to court documents.

Sheehan remains at the Warren County Regional Jail.