Still Missing KY - Crystal Rogers, 35, Bluegrass Parkway, 3 July 2015 #4 *arrest in 2023*

[Fight4justice]

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (FOX 56) — The Nelson County Court has decided to reduce the bond of one of the men charged in connection with the Crystal Rogers case.

Joseph Lawson was indicted on July 21, 2023, and charged with tampering with physical evidence and a criminal conspiracy to commit murder. His bond was fixed at $500,000, according to court documents.

Trial date set for 3 men charged in the death of Crystal Rogers
On Feb. 8, Lawson’s representation filed a motion to reduce his bond, citing that “the amount of bail shall be sufficient to insure compliance with the conditions of release set by the court. It shall not be oppressive and shall be commensurate with the gravity of the offense charged. In determining such amount the court shall consider the defendant’s past criminal acts, if any, the defendant’s reasonably anticipated conduct if released and the defendant’s financial ability to give bail.”


In this case, Lawson’s defense argues that Lawson, a paraplegic, is not capable of fleeing. Lawson currently faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted, according to court documents.

As FOX 56 previously reported, Lawson’s defense requested a $50,000 bond unsecured, meaning he’d only have to pay if he didn’t show up for his court

 

[Niner]

another article

Judge lowers bond for man charged in Crystal Rogers' disappearance

A judge has decided to lower the bond for one of the men charged in connection with the 2015 disappearance of Crystal Rogers.

www.lex18.com

Feb. 12, 2024

In the ruling announced Monday, the judge lowered Steven Lawson's bond to a cash-only $250K bond, the same bond amount as his father.

Lawson's attorneys also asked the judge if Lawson could wait for his trial on home incarceration. The judge did not respond to that request in the latest ruling. However, if Lawson were to post bond, the judge ruled he would have to follow a "dusk to dawn" curfew, except for employment & medical emergencies.

 

[Emi]

@JerseyGirl @Tricia @Sillybilly @Knitty can this thread be moved to Currently awaiting trial. This case is currently very active arrests are going on, and there is a trial date set for next year

 

[Emi]

Shay McAlister​

New documents in the Crystal Rogers case: Steve Lawson's attorney is asking for the charges against him to be dismissed OR the testimony he gave to be excluded from the case.
Big takeaways from the documents:

• Lawson was interviewed by local investigators in 2015, by the FBI in 2020, and then testified to a grand jury in 2023, all in exchange for a promise of immunity
• the prosecutor "made it clear" Lawson's statements could not be used against him
• earlier this year Lawson was indicted on tampering with physical evidence charges because "he assisted in moving Crystal Rogers car"
• Lawson's attorney included what appears to be transcripts from the interviews, citing multiple conversations where statements like "the more you tell us, the more we'll help you" are mentioned
• The attorney is asking for a motion for the indictment to be dismissed at a March 21st hearing

 

[watergirl62]

I need to update the case map with digs since August 2020. Will get to work on that.

Crystal Rogers: Bardstown, KY

Crystal Rogers: Bardstown, KY - Google My Maps

locations associated with Crystal Rogers, Tommy Ballard and Jason Ellis

goo.gl

 

[Emi]

Adobe Acrobat

acrobat.adobe.com

This is a document - Defendant's motion to dismiss or suppress statements

 

[Emi]

From ShayMcAlister WHAS11 reporter

We saw this coming... Brooks Houck's defense team has officially asked for a change of venue. The court documents are interesting. Houck's attorneys say he will not receive a fair trial in Nelson County so they want it moved to Boyd or Daviess County, and here are some of the reasons why:

-Police searches conducted in the public eye at properties with ties to Brooks Houck
-Yard signs, billboards and bumper stickers all over the county that allude to Brooks Houck's connections to the crime
-Nelson County grand jurors had "almost alarming" knowledge of the case and sympathized with the victim's family

DETAILS: Brooks Houck attorneys request trial be moved from Bardstown to Boyd or Daviess counties

 

[Emi]

From ShayMcAlister WHAS11 reporter

For the first time Nick Houck is being called the “primary suspect” in Tommy Ballard’s murder. The connection was revealed in new court documents filed by Brooks Houck’s attorneys today.

DETAILS: Nick Houck considered ‘primary suspect’ in Tommy Ballard’s death, according to attorney

 

[Emi]

Shay McAlister 40m·​

More new court documents in the Crystal Rogers case... Steve Lawson has officially asked for his trial to be moved out of Nelson County. He has also requested his charges be dropped... so we'll see where the judge lands on all of this. All of these motions are making the next court date (MARCH 21) more and more interesting...

DETAILS: Brooks Houck attorneys request trial be moved from Bardstown to Boyd or Daviess counties

 

[GoBuckeyes]

From ShayMcAlister WHAS11 reporter

We saw this coming... Brooks Houck's defense team has officially asked for a change of venue. The court documents are interesting. Houck's attorneys say he will not receive a fair trial in Nelson County so they want it moved to Boyd or Daviess County, and here are some of the reasons why:

-Police searches conducted in the public eye at properties with ties to Brooks Houck
-Yard signs, billboards and bumper stickers all over the county that allude to Brooks Houck's connections to the crime
-Nelson County grand jurors had "almost alarming" knowledge of the case and sympathized with the victim's family

DETAILS: Brooks Houck attorneys request trial be moved from Bardstown to Boyd or Daviess counties

That is very interesting! MOO the "alarming" aspects of this case are many and do not include the GJ's knowledge of the case. Sheesh! Dramatic much, defense team?!

 

[DeDee]

Shay McAlister​

New documents in the Crystal Rogers case: Steve Lawson's attorney is asking for the charges against him to be dismissed OR the testimony he gave to be excluded from the case.
Big takeaways from the documents:

• Lawson was interviewed by local investigators in 2015, by the FBI in 2020, and then testified to a grand jury in 2023, all in exchange for a promise of immunity
• the prosecutor "made it clear" Lawson's statements could not be used against him
• earlier this year Lawson was indicted on tampering with physical evidence charges because "he assisted in moving Crystal Rogers car"
• Lawson's attorney included what appears to be transcripts from the interviews, citing multiple conversations where statements like "the more you tell us, the more we'll help you" are mentioned
• The attorney is asking for a motion for the indictment to be dismissed at a March 21st hearing

This motion won't fly. It has no power. Police are allowed to lie in interviews. Police are allowed to perform a ruse during an interview. Lawson was duped.

There is no documented written agreement. It was verbal. Police were urging him to tell them more because they wanted the truth of the matter. It hurts to be double-crossed but that sometimes happens to criminals. He shouldn't have helped move Crystal's body.

MOO hope that's right

 

[GoBuckeyes]

This motion won't fly. It has no power. Police are allowed to lie in interviews. Police are allowed to perform a ruse during an interview. Lawson was duped.

There is no documented written agreement. It was verbal. Police were urging him to tell them more because they wanted the truth of the matter. It hurts to be double-crossed but that sometimes happens to criminals. He shouldn't have helped move Crystal's body.

MOO hope that's right

I didn't think they were allowed to lie about immunity, but jmoo.

 

[TedMac]

Court documents tie together Crystal Rogers and Tommy Ballard investigations

Two unsolved mysteries previously linked by the victim could now have another tie, in the suspects.

www.whas11.com

Court documents tie together Crystal Rogers and Tommy Ballard investigations​

New court documents filed in the Crystal Rogers murder case on Thursday are now piecing together another one of Bardstown’s unsolved mysteries.

A new motion filed by Brooks Houck’s attorneys claim Houck is being subjected to “intense public scorn” after his brother Nick Houck was tied to Tommy Ballard’s murder during a court hearing in October of 2023.

 

[DeDee]

I didn't think they were allowed to lie about immunity, but jmoo.

Based on interview transcripts provided by the court, from June 8, 2023, to Sept. 12, 2023, Lawson was offered immunity for his cooperation over 14 times.

“I’ve been doing this for 25 years. I’ve never extended this offer to anybody, ever,” Prosecutor Shane Young said on June 8, 2023, according to court documents. “I’m giving you blanket immunity; take advantage of it.”


The rule of law is very simple: An investigator cannot offer the suspect a promise he cannot keep. Our criminal justice system affords prosecutors and investigators different powers in the effort to obtain evidence against a defendant. Prosecutors alone have the authority to make charging decisions and sentencing recommendations. Even if the investigator is best friends with the prosecutor and is almost certain that the prosecutor will go along with the suggested leniency, the promise is still impermissible because the investigator does not have the legal authority to offer it.

In an attempt to get around this legal technicality, investigators have made statements designed to allow the suspect to perceive possible leniency in exchange for a confession.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

Based on interview transcripts provided by the court, from June 8, 2023, to Sept. 12, 2023, Lawson was offered immunity for his cooperation over 14 times.

“I’ve been doing this for 25 years. I’ve never extended this offer to anybody, ever,” Prosecutor Shane Young said on June 8, 2023, according to court documents. “I’m giving you blanket immunity; take advantage of it.”


The rule of law is very simple: An investigator cannot offer the suspect a promise he cannot keep. Our criminal justice system affords prosecutors and investigators different powers in the effort to obtain evidence against a defendant. Prosecutors alone have the authority to make charging decisions and sentencing recommendations. Even if the investigator is best friends with the prosecutor and is almost certain that the prosecutor will go along with the suggested leniency, the promise is still impermissible because the investigator does not have the legal authority to offer it.

In an attempt to get around this legal technicality, investigators have made statements designed to allow the suspect to perceive possible leniency in exchange for a confession.

 

[watergirl62]

Shay McAlister 40m·​

More new court documents in the Crystal Rogers case... Steve Lawson has officially asked for his trial to be moved out of Nelson County. He has also requested his charges be dropped... so we'll see where the judge lands on all of this. All of these motions are making the next court date (MARCH 21) more and more interesting...

DETAILS: Brooks Houck attorneys request trial be moved from Bardstown to Boyd or Daviess counties

In the motion DA Young kept reiterating that SL needed to be 100% honest with him and he thought SL was holding out on full disclosure. He definitely stated the metric.
I wish we had the interviews!

I am just speculating here but I imagine that full disclosure would include the 1) location of Crystal and 2) that he witnessed Brooks murder her. MOO

It is possible that he doesn't know but he sure is in it up to his eyeballs.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

I'm confused. Is this the father or son whose attorney will be asking for charges to be dropped.

 

[watergirl62]

I'm confused. Is this the father or son whose attorney will be asking for charges to be dropped.

Father. He worked part time in construction with BH.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

Father. He worked part time in construction with BH.

Okay, thank you. At least the case against BH seems rock solid. Any word on charges for BH's brother with the gun sale? TIA

 

[arielilane]

@CourtTV

Attorneys have filed a motion to change the venue for Brooks Houck, a man charged with murder in the disappearance of Crystal Rogers.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1766888074649194879