LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Steve Lawson was arrested and charged in connection to the death of Crystal Rogers last week. Now, his attorney is revealing his client had nothing to do with her death, but has been providing police with critical information, in exchange for immunity.
"I did not hurt Crystal and was not involved in hurting Crystal. I didn't plan to hurt Crystal. I didn't conspire to hurt Crystal. Those are his statements,” attorney Theodore Lavit explained.
Lawson is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence. Lavit said his client met Rogers one time before her disappearance in 2015 and described it as “pleasantries exchanged and nothing more”.
He said Lawson was employed on a part-time basis by Brooks Houck, the man now charged with Rogers’ murder.
“He had an association with Houck. Mr. Houck had conversations with him about Crystal. And that's the extent of my client's involvement. But he did not hurt Crystal. He did not prepare to hurt Crystal. He would never do anything of that nature to another human,” Lavit said.
One of those conversations was recorded in the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office interrogation room. Detective John Snow was interviewing Brooks Houck days after Rogers was reported missing. Snow asked about a phone call to Steve Lawson, made on the night Rogers disappeared.
Houck then called Lawson and put him on speakerphone. After answering, Lawson immediately said, "I just want to tell you I'm sorry for everything you're going through. I've got you in my prayers."
Houck responds with, "I certainly. This is a very difficult and trying time, but I appreciate you saying that."
Detective Snow would later call the conversation unusual. Lawson's attorney Ted Lavit said, "It was a set up phone call. One was supposed to call the other. The ring came in and they spoke."
Lavit said he hadn’t seen the transcript of that phone call yet. But he is aware of other information shared between Lawson and the police. He said his client has met with the FBI, Kentucky State Police and special prosecutor Shane Young “more than a dozen times” over the last year.
Lavit said the information was supposed to be shared under a shield of immunity, but that ended last week when Lawson was indicted.
"They chose to indict him, rather than give him the immunity he was promised,” Lavit said.
Lavit asserts that Steve Lawson's information dates back to the weekend Rogers disappeared.
When Crystal's maroon sedan, later towed away as evidence by the FBI, was abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkway with her keys phone and purse inside. The attorney said it was Joseph Lawson, Steve's son, who drove the car to the highway.
"It was driven out there by Joey. Joey Lawson. He had a flat tire at that mile marker and my client received a phone call, went out and got him, brought him back,” Lavit said.
Lavit said Steve doesn't know where the car was going or why his son was driving it. But he does have reason to believe police have built a case around solicitation.
Shay McAlister: "Do you think Brooks Houck paid Joseph Lawson to help with the murder of Crystal Rogers?"
Theodore Lavit: “I think the Commonwealth has been trying to establish that a payment was made. As to who that payment was made to, and when it was made, I'm not privy to that information yet."
Lavit said he thinks more information could soon be made public.
“As we move on, the Commonwealth is ready to move on after all these eight and a half years. I'd say we’re going to hear some things in court we haven't heard before,” Lavit said.
The next court date in this case is scheduled for Dec. 21 when Steve Lawson is expected in Nelson County for arraignment.
His son Joseph Lawson will be in court on Jan. 5. Brooks Houck will be in court Feb. 8.