Steve Lawson told confidential informant Brooks Houck had nothing to do with Crystal Rogers' murder (2024)

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) -- Attorneys for Brooks Houck told a judge Monday it would be “unfair” and close to impossible to put Houck and his two co-defendants on trial together for the murder of Crystal Rogers because of how much false information was provided.

Steve Lawson has given about 20 hours of contradictory testimony and information about the case and, unless he testified at a joint trial, Houck would be unable to confront Lawson about the lies, attorney Brian Butler told Nelson County Judge Charles Simms III.

Butler said Lawson twice told confidential informants in 2020 that, "I don't think Brooks had anything to do with" Rogers' disappearance. But during hours of interviews with investigators and in front of a grand jury, Lawson changed his story repeatedly.

For example, he also said he was paid $50,000 by Houck to move Rogers' vehicle.

"Steve Lawson was the connection (to Houck) for the government’s case," Butler said.

And, without being able to question him, Butler said the defense would have to show hours of testimony and interviews that prove Lawson lied repeatedly and told investigators what they wanted to hear in hopes of getting immunity.

"When the trial comes, if we do them together, it becomes about hours and hours and hours of Steve Lawson and his inconsistent statements” and promises made to him by investigators, Butler said. If the three men are tried together, "everyone will be back here in two years doing it again."

Butler played some of the interviews Lawson had with investigators over the last few years, showing that at times, Lawson said Houck seemed not to know what to tell investigators.

"What the Hell do you want me to say," he told them at one point.

But Lawson told investigators he "wanted to be on their team and help them out," Butler said.

In one instance, Butler said that Lawson told investigators that he called Houck shortly after Rogers' disappeared and told him, "The job is done," referring to moving her car.

In addition, the other co-defendant, Joseph Lawson -- Steve's son -- is shown in a video interview being told by investigators what they believe happened. He didn’t say anything audible during the interview but Butler told the judge Joseph Lawson later said "he wanted to tell investigators what they wanted to hear."

"You can’t coach someone more than that. He starts with the government's theory and ends with the government's theory," Butler said. "It's incredible. I wouldn’t believe it if it weren’t on the tape. But that happened. If there was ever a case that shouldn’t be joined, it’s this one."

Monday's hearing follows a request by the prosecution to try all three men together on Feb. 10, 2025, given they are facing the same charges and allegedly worked with each other. One trial would also be less traumatizing for the family and friends of Rogers, according to the prosecution.

Prosecutor Shane Young asked a judge to join the cases into one trial since they are alleged to have "acted in concert to accomplish the murder of Crystal Rodgers and to dispose of evidence which would conceal the murder."

On Monday, prosecutors argued they would take out references to Houck from Lawson's statements.

Prosecutor Teresa Young said the prosecution would not use grand jury testimony provided by Lawson against Houck and said Butler's argument was "clear as mud."

"They simply are not going to be utilized," she said of Lawson's statements about Houck.

But Butler said there is no way to remove Houck from the conversations or testimony in the jurors' minds, even if his name is not used.

"There's no way the statements don't incriminate" Houck, he said.

And if prosecutors use any testimony or interviews with the Lawson or his son, Butler said the defense would have to go into the claims that they lied and were coerced.

Judge Simms said he wants to hear from Joseph Lawson and his attorney before ruling. Joseph Lawson has a hearing on July 18.

Last week, the judge denied a request to dismiss the charges against Steve Lawson, who claimed he was promised immunity if he cooperated with investigations.

Simms ruled the oral agreement between prosecutors and Lawson stipulated he had to be 100% honest with investigators.

Prosecutors argued Lawson lied repeatedly to minimize his own part in the case, and Simms found that recordings of Lawson's interviews with investigators "clearly establish that Lawson provided wildly inconsistent information."

Rogers was last seen with her boyfriend, Houck, during the Fourth of July weekend in 2015. Her car was left running on the side of Bluegrass Parkway with her purse still inside. She's presumed dead, but her body was never found.

Joseph Lawson, 32, pleaded not guilty in September to criminal conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence in the Rogers case. He is not charged with Rogers' murder, but prosecutors instead charged him with conspiracy, meaning they believe he was involved in some fashion with whomever killed Rogers.

The maximum sentence for the conspiracy charge is 10-20 years in prison.

In addition, the indictment charges Joseph Lawson with complicity to tampering with physical evidence when he "destroyed, mutilated, concealed, removed or altered physical evidence." The maximum penalty for that charge is one to five years in prison.

Steve Lawson, according to a Dec. 6 Nelson County indictment, agreed to "aid one or more persons in the planning or commission" of the death of another and then "destroyed, mutilated, concealed, removed" or altered physical evidence on July 3 or July 4, 2015, when Rogers disappeared.

Houck's indictment accused him of "acting alone or in complicity with another" committing the offense of murder of Rogers. He's also charged with tampering when he "destroyed, mutilated, concealed, removed or altered" physical evidence, according to the indictment.

Previous Coverage:

• On 9th anniversary of Crystal Rogers' disappearance, 3 men sit in jail charged with her murder
• Judge rejects immunity deal for Steve Lawson, ruling he lied to investigators in Crystal Rogers case
• Defendant in Crystal Rogers' murder case says men were digging at farm days after her disappearance
• Judge questions whether Steve Lawson was truthful with investigators in Crystal Rogers case
• Man charged in Crystal Rogers murder says he was promised immunity, wants case dismissed
• Steve Lawson said in jail phone call that he and son moved Crystal Rogers' vehicle
• Prosecution: Steve Lawson was recruited by Brooks Houck 'to get rid' of Crystal Rogers
• Brooks Houck's 2015 interview with Nancy Grace added to evidence in Crystal Rogers murder case
• Prosecutor, attorneys for 3 men charged in Crystal Rogers' murder choose Christian County for 2025 trial
• Prosecutor agrees trial for 3 men charged in Crystal Rogers murder will move out of Nelson County
• Attorneys for Brooks Houck allege investigators promised immunity to co-defendants to 'get Brooks'
• The 3 men charged in the Crystal Rogers murder should stand trial together, prosecutor argues
• Joseph Lawson requests change of venue in 2025 trial connected to Crystal Rogers' death
• Brooks Houck's bond will remain at $10 million when he stands trial for Crystal Rogers' murder
• Brooks Houck's attorneys ask judge to move Crystal Rogers murder trial out of Bardstown, central KY
• Brooks Houck's bond will remain at $10 million, Nelson County judge rules
• Brooks Houck charged in murder of former girlfriend Crystal Rogers, bond set at $10 million
• Brooks Houck's family is accused of secretly recording grand jury proceedings. Here's why they won't be charged for it.

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.