Updates from WHAS11
Live Updates
1:50 p.m.
Judge has asked for time to read documents. Will discuss the written order on Houck's bond later. Court has been dismissed.
WHAS11 will provide more information once that becomes available.
1:46 p.m.
Sherry Ballard's eyes filled with tears as they mentioned Tommy Ballard, her husband.
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1:41 p.m.
The judge said he is very concerned for the safety of the witnesses.
He said his office is also investigating the murder of Tommy Ballard which they believe will be linked.
Young said they purchased a gun from Nick Houck and are currently testing it. They believe that was the weapon used to kill Tommy Ballard, Crystal's father who was mysteriously murdered a year after her disappearance.
1:37 p.m.
Prosecutor Shane Young said Houck does have a loving, supportive family. "I completely agree, they've been supportive."
Grand jury proceedings are secret. In this matter, Young said Houck's sister, brother, mother, brother-in-law, and mother's boyfriend secretly brought in recorders and recorded the grand jury.
"I've been practicing for 28 years and have never heard of that!" he said.
Young is alleging Houck's family violated Kentucky law when they illegally recorded grand jury proceedings.
Young said Brooks Houck showed his sister how to run the same recorder in July 2015, the same month Crystal Rogers was murdered. He said they wanted to get their story straight.
1:23 p.m.
Brooks Houck is appearing in court today from the Hardin County Detention Center.
1:20 p.m.
Media is watching the arraignment from the jury box.
1:17 p.m.
Crystal's mom and daughter sit stoic in the front row as they listen to Houck's attorney ask for a reduced bond.
1:10 p.m.
Now the court is hearing the defense's motion to reduce bond. Butler wants the $10 million cash bond reduced to $500,000. He said in his 28 years of practice, he has never heard of a bond even close to that.
Houck's constitutional rights are being violated with this bond, Butler said.
1:09 p.m.
The next court date scheduled for Feb. 8, 2024, at 1 p.m. for pre-trial.
1:08 p.m.
Pre-trial is set for February to see if discovery is complete and they are ready for the actual trial.
Shan Young said he would be ready for a trial in the summer of 2024, but Defense attorney Brian Butler said "there is no way Mr. Houck can get a fair trial in 2024."
Butler said he plans to make a motion to try this case in another county.
1:02 p.m.
Houck has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Special Prosecutor Shane Young said the discovery is going to be "over a terabyte" of evidence. Prosecutors estimate there is thousands of documents of evidence in this case.
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