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Brooks Houck pleads "not guilty" to felony theft charges

Crystal Rogers family filled the courtroom as Brooks Houck went in front of a judge.

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WHAS11) -- Brooks Houck pleaded not guilty to multiple felony theft charges in court.

Houck came to court Thursday with only his lawyer by his side. But the gallery was full of the friends and family of the missing mother of five Crystal Rogers.

Rogers disappeared three years ago, and Houck is considered the main suspect in her case.

"It’s hard really to look at him, but I know I have to sometimes. I'm not going to let him intimidate me,” Rogers’ mother, Sherry Ballard, said.

Houck was arrested in July after police said he stole shingles from Lowe's earlier this year.

This case is completely different from Crystal Rogers’ and under investigation by a different agency.

But Crystal's family holds out hope that her case could be closer to closure as well.

Ballard said, "I know this has nothing to do with my daughter, but it does show what kind of person Brooks Houck is, so to me that's very important."

Three years without answers in her daughter's case has been difficult for Ballard.

But she said she hopes one day she will sit in the Nelson County Courtroom getting justice for her daughter.

"I wait for that day every minute, every second of my life. But to see him here for anything- I will take that,” Ballard said.

Houck is expected back in court in January of next year.

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