BARDSTOWN, Ky. — New details were revealed in court Thursday about one of the three suspects charged in the death of Crystal Rogers.
At the end of 2023, Brooks Houck, Rogers' former boyfriend, was charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence in connection to her disappearance. Father and son Steve and Joseph Lawson were charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence.
Rogers vanished in 2015 and has been presumed dead for the last eight years.
In court Thursday, a prosecutor said that once Joseph found out he was a "subject of an investigation" into what happened to Rogers, he called his "associates" to give him a cover story and an alibi for July 3, 2015 -- the night Rogers went missing.
Joseph Lawson's attorney, Kevin Coleman, was seeking to have his bond reduced to $50,000. It's currently set at $500,000. Coleman also asked for Lawson to be put on home incarceration.
The prosecution objected to reducing the bond due to the nature of Joseph's alleged crimes. An attorney pointed out his numerous prior felony convictions and the actions he took after learning detectives were eyeing him in the Rogers investigation.
"He's paraplegic, that is just a fact that exists for him," Coleman said. "That obviously lessons his ability to have any free movement, independent movement. That goes toward his lack of being a flight risk and his lack of being a danger."
Judge Charles Simms said he will have a decision on the bond reduction by the end of day Monday.
As for his father, Steve Lawson's bond was set at $500,000 before it was reduced early last month.
Steve's attorney, Ted Lavit, originally asked for the bond to be reduced to $20,000 or a $40,000 real estate bond. On Jan. 9, Judge Simms ruled that his bond be cut in half to $250,000.
Simms said he chose to reduce the bond after considering the gravity of Steve's charges and prior criminal history, which is mostly made up of misdemeanors and minor violations.
Another status hearing will take place on March 21 at 1 p.m.
All three men are currently expected to have their trials begin Feb. 10, although that could change depending on several factors. Houck's attorney has also made it clear he does not want his client tried with the Lawsons.
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