LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Steve Lawson, the first of three men convicted in the 2015 Crystal Rogers murder, was sentenced Wednesday to 17 years in prison. 

Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III followed the recommendation of a jury, which, in May, found Lawson guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence.

A Warren County jury deliberated more than two hours on May 31 before convicting Lawson. Jurors then recommended a sentence of 17 years in prison, which the judge followed Wednesday. Simms also denied a motion by the defense for a new trial but said Lawson has 30 days to appeal his conviction and sentence to the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

Two of Rogers' family members gave statements before the sentencing, both staring at Lawson and telling him he could have prevented her murder if he'd come forward.

"You could have stopped this," said Brooke Bryan, Rogers' sister. "You could have saved her life, and we wouldn't be here today. Your silence took Crystal's life."

Rogers' uncle, Mike Ballard, was even more emphatic while nearly shouting at Lawson as he spoke, saying he deserved the maximum 25-year sentence and telling him "I promise you will see me again.

"I will be at your parole hearing and do everything I can to stop you from getting out," he said.

Mike Ballard also told Lawson to look at Rogers' family and have the courage to tell them where her body is buried.

"If you do one right thing in your life, this is the thing to do," Mike Ballard said. "Let them know where their mom is."

Lawson never looked at the family or reacted during the sentencing. He also didn't give a statement before Simms handed down the 17-year sentence.

No one else from Rogers' family, including her mother, Sherry Ballard, commented after the hearing.

Prosecutor Shane Young had asked the jury for the maximum sentence, which would have been 25 years, saying Lawson was a key part in the plan to murder Rogers.

Last month, in a separate trial, a jury found Brooks Houck, 43, guilty of murder (principal or accomplice to the crime) and complicity tampering with physical evidence.

And Steve Lawson's son, Joseph, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence.

The jury recommended maximum sentences for both men: life in prison plus five years for Houck and 25 years for Lawson. Both would have to serve 85% of their sentence before being eligible for parole.

A final sentencing hearing will be held Aug. 21.

Both trials were moved to Bowling Green because of the massive amount of publicity in and around Nelson County since Rogers vanished. 

Rogers, a 35-year-old mother of five from Nelson County, was last seen alive during the Fourth of July weekend in 2015 with her boyfriend, Houck.

Days later, her car was found abandoned — still running — on the side of the Bluegrass Parkway. Her purse and other belongings were inside. Despite years of searching, she's never been found.

During his trial, Steve Lawson admitted he was guilty of tampering with physical evidence for helping his son move Rogers' vehicle after she disappeared. Both men worked for Houck. 

Joseph Lawson drove Rogers' car, and his father picked him up when the vehicle had a flat tire, leaving it on the side of Bluegrass Parkway, he testified.

Before they left, Steve Lawson reached into Rogers' car and moved the driver's seat forward — because Rogers was short — and removed a miniature Louisville Slugger bat his son carried around regularly.

He denied knowing anything about Crystal Rogers' disappearance. 

"I was just moving a vehicle," Lawson told the jurors. "That's what I was told."

Prosecutors, however, argued evidence proved Lawson's knowledge and involvement in Rodgers' murder, including testimony of a conversation in which Brooks told Lawson he wanted his wife "gone."

Lawson said you mean gone like "deceased?" Lawson said he wasn't the man for it and Houck had a lot of people working for him, including a man named Charlie Girdley, according to his testimony.

Girdley testified as to the details of that conversation. Girdley "giggled" at his potential involvement, Lawson said.

Lawson testified that neither man believed Houck was serious. "He laughed it off, same as I did."

Houck "never came out and asked me to kill Crystal Rogers," Lawson told the jury.

The prosecution asked Lawson why he didn't inquire as to why Houck wanted Rogers' vehicle moved if she wasn't going to be killed.

"I don't know, I didn't ask," Lawson said. "I don't know why he wanted the car moved. I still don't know to this day."

This story will be updated. 

Related Stories:

Brooks Houck, Crystal Rogers went to family farm 'to get away' the night she vanished

Brooks Houck tells family in jail phone calls he's 'gonna die in here'

Brooks Houck trying to sell assets ahead of wrongful death lawsuit in Crystal Rogers case

Brooks Houck and Joseph Lawson found guilty of all charges in Crystal Rogers' murder

Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved