BARDSTOWN, Ky. — This story will be continuously updated throughout Thursday. Scroll below for live updates.
All three men charged in the death of Crystal Rogers will appear before a Nelson County judge Thursday afternoon.
The Bardstown mother was reported missing over the Fourth of July weekend in 2015. At the end of 2023, Rogers’ former boyfriend Brooks Houck was charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence in connection to her disappearance.
Steven Lawson, who worked for Houck, and his son Joseph Lawson were also arrested last year in connection to the FBI’s investigation. Both men are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence.
All three men are expected to appear in-person on Thursday for various court hearings, which begin at 1 p.m.
Media is not permitted to live stream during the hearings, however WHAS11 will provide updates from the courtroom. Refresh this story often to see minute-by-minute updates as the day progresses.
Live updates
2:03 p.m.
Ted Lavit spoke to media after the hearing.
He said this is the first time Joseph and Steve Lawson have seen each other since being arrested. He said the father and son saw each other in passing and no words were exchanged.
1:58 p.m.
Simms said he will have a decision on the bond reduction by the end of day Monday.
1:53 p.m.
The prosecution objects to reduced bond due to the nature of Joseph Lawson's alleged crimes. An attorney points out his numerous prior felony convictions.
"The reason he is in prison today is because he could not follow the guidance of the courts," the attorney argued. "No reason to believe he could follow the rules today."
Attorney alleges once Lawson knew he was a target in Crystal's investigation, he called numerous associates to give him a cover story on the night Rogers' disappeared.
1:49 p.m.
Lawson's bond is currently set at $500,000. His attorney, Kevin Coleman, is looking to have the bond reduced to $50,000.
He's also asking for Lawson to be put on home incarceration. Previously, Simms approved a bond reduction for Steve Lawson.
Coleman said Joseph is paraplegic which lessens his ability to be a flight risk and a danger to others.
1:47 p.m.
Steven Lawson and Brooks Houck have been taken from the courtroom. The judge is now focusing on Joseph Lawson's bond reduction hearing.
1:46 p.m.
Young is looking to have all three men tried together, and all three defense attorneys agreed to the Feb. 10 trial date, but Houck's attorney believes there will be an objection to that eventually.
1:45 p.m.
Simms sets a trial date on Feb. 10, 2025 at 9 a.m.
Another status hearing will take place on March 21, 2024 at 1 p.m.
1:43 p.m.
Young and the suspects attorneys believe a trial could begin in mid-February 2025 based on the complexity of the nature of the case itself.
But the defense said that's subject to them going through the discovery, which includes evidence in the Jason Ellis and Tommy Ballard case.
1:42 p.m.
Young said over 1.1 terabytes of discovery has been turned over from three different agencies. He expects that to be completed on March 15.
Prosecution believes there is less than a terabyte to review.
1:39 p.m.
Brooks Houck has entered the courtroom.
1:38 p.m.
Joseph and Steven Lawson have entered the courtroom.
1:31 p.m.
Steve Lawson's attorney, Ted Lavit, and Brooks Houck's attorney, Brian Butler, have entered the courtroom and have sat down with a team of attorneys.
The defense teams are sitting at two separate tables.
1:30 p.m.
A deputy motioned to Joseph Lawson's attorneys. It appears Lawson has arrived at the courthouse. Both attorneys have now gone upstairs.
Special Prosecutor Shane Young has entered the courtroom.
1:18 p.m.
Nelson County Sheriff Ramon Pineiroa told WHAS11 the holdup on the proceedings is because one of the suspects hasn't arrived at the courthouse yet.
Pineiroa did confirm all three suspects will physically be in the courtroom.
Judge Simms is currently having a private meeting with Brooks Houck and Steve Lawson's attorneys.
1:14 p.m.
Nelson County Judge Charles Simms has yet to enter the courtroom. The hearings were scheduled to begin 15 minutes earlier.
1:06 p.m.
Joseph Lawson's attorney, Kevin Coleman, has entered the courtroom. It's still unclear if Joseph's hearing will be the first of the day.
Attorney Ted Lavit, who represents Steve Lawson, briefly appeared in the courtroom minutes earlier, but deputies directed him to a meeting room upstairs.
12:38 p.m.
The courtroom is packed with community and media.
12:32 p.m.
Courtroom doors have opened for the family.
12:30 p.m.
Attorneys for all three suspects have been seen entering Nelson County District Court A. The courtroom doors have yet to open.
12:10 p.m.
Till Ballard, Crystal’s grandfather has arrived. Community members and family are filling up the Nelson County courthouse lobby waiting to be let in. the courtroom.
12:01 p.m.
Brooks Houck’s mother Rosemary Houck and Brook’s girlfriend Crystal Maupin have arrived at the courthouse.
11:59 a.m.
Crystal’s mother, Sherry Ballard, has arrived with family members. She told WHAS11 she’s “nervous” for court hearings today.
11:58 a.m.
WHAS11 is in Nelson County for court hearings in the Crystal Rogers case.
Doors to the courtroom are expected to open around 12:30 p.m.
What to expect?
Brooks Houck’s court appearance is for a pretrial hearing. Attorneys are expected to discuss the sharing of evidence, which includes thousands of documents, hours of police interviews and potential evidence from previous searches.
His attorney, Brian Butler, previously suggested the defense may not be ready for trial until 2025 due to the sheer volume of evidence.
Attorneys may also submit a motion for a change in venue, something Butler has desired to ensure Houck receives a fair trial.
Steve Lawson’s hearing is for a “fast track review.” Historically, when a case is fast tracked, it means the defendant requests to bypass the pre-trial phase and schedule a trial date sometimes as early as three months out.
Joseph Lawson’s hearing is scheduled as a pre-trial hearing as well. Attorneys are expected to argue for a lower bond, which is currently set at $500,000.
According to court documents, filed by his attorney Kevin Coleman, Lawson is a paraplegic who is “not a danger to the community or himself.” Coleman is asking for a bond reduction to $50,000 with medical releases and GPS monitoring.
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