By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 — The trial of Stephen Lawson, the first of the Crystal Rogers defendants to go to court, began Tuesday morning in Warren County Circuit Court in Bowling Green.
The first action the judge took this morning was to hear two pre-trial motions.
The first, from Lawson’s defense team, asked the court to delay the trial so attorneys could complete a review of the massive amount of documents and evidence produced in discovery.
Judge Simms denied that motion, which gave the next phase of the trial, jury selection, a green light.
The second motion was one submitted by Louisville media, asking the judge to allow a video camera in the court room which would serve all media entities with video coverage.
Simms denied that motion as well.
JURY SELECTION. The first order of business was jury selection. In roughly three hours, the judge and the prosecuting and defense attorneys whittled down the massive courtroom packed with prospective jurors to the final 15 — five men and 10 women, two of whom were African-American.
OPENING STATEMENTS. The attorneys for the Commonwealth told the jurors they will provide conclusive proof that Lawson aided Houck’s plan to murder his girlfriend, and then helped dispose of her car.
The defense team admitted that Lawson is indeed guilty of tampering with physical evidence, but that he played no part in conspiring with Houck to murder Crystal Rogers.
FIRST TESTIMONY: SHERRY BALLARD. Following opening arguments from the prosecutors and defense team, the first person to testify was Crystal Rogers’ mother, Sherry Ballard.
Ballard told the court how Brooks Houck and her daughter met and began a relationship she described as “troubled” at times. When Crystal became pregnant with Brooks’ son, she moved in with him.
Ballard was frequently overcome by emotion as she told the courtroom about her daughter’s relationship with Houck.
JON SNOW TESTIMONY. Former Nelson County Sheriff’s Office Detective Jon Snow was the lead detective on the investigation of Rogers’ July 2015 disappearance.
Using video clips and audio recordings, Snow he told the court how his investigation directed his focus to investigate defendant Steve Lawson role in Rogers’ disappearance.
Snow said that to this day, investigators have never determined what exactly happened to Rogers.
FIVE-DAY TRIAL. Simms advised potential jurors that the trial is expected to continue this week and wrap up next Monday, June 2nd. When the trial concludes, Lawson’s fate will be in the hands of the jury.
NEXT UP. On Wednesday, Snow will continue his testimony, and the defense will have a chance to cross-examine Snow.
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