LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The attorney for Steve Lawson, the third man arrested in connection to the murder of Crystal Rogers, said Lawson was verbally offered immunity by federal investigators.

Theodore Lavit, in a recent interview with WDRB News, said Lawson "expected to be arrested."

"He's not surprised," Lavit said. "... As interrogation progressed down through the last month, they were backing off of their agreement to give him immunity.

"We believe he's immune. I still think he's immune."

Lawson, according to the 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.

His bond has been set at $500,000 cash. Lawson is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 21.

"He knows nothing about her death," Lavit said. "At no times has he indicated he harmed that girl."

After eight years of investigation, Lawson is the third man charged in Rogers' disappearance in recent months. His son, Joseph Lawson, and Brooks Houck have also been indicted.

Brooks Houck

Brooks Houck's mugshot after being arrested Sept. 27 in the murder of Crystal Rogers. (Photo courtesy of the Hardin County Detention Center)

Houck, the primary suspect in the disappearance of Rogers, was arrested Sept. 27, after being charged with complicity to murder and tampering with physical evidence. He was the last person seen with Rogers, his former girlfriend and the mother of his 10-year-old son.

He has pleaded not guilty and is in jail on a $10 million bond.

In September, Joseph Lawson was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence in connection with Rogers' death.

"Joey (Joseph Lawson) drove Crystal's vehicle west on the Bluegrass (Parkway) to, I believe it was Mile Marker 14 or 16, where he had a flat tire," Lavit said, marking the first on-the-record account of how Rogers' car ended up abandoned on the highway after her disappearance.

Rogers was last seen 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.

"There likely is, for my knowledge of this case, evidence that there was solicitation," Lavit said, claiming someone tried to hire a person to kill Rogers. But he wouldn't name names.

"In my judgement, the Commonwealth is going to make a heavy effort to prove that."

Steve Lawson remains behind bars charged with conspiracy to commit murder. He was arrested in Harrison County, Indiana, but has no local charges there. Lavit said Lawson is a trucker for distilleries and often drives in Indiana. His his mother lives there, too, Lavit said.

Lavit said Lawson used to work for Houck as a part-time employee.

"He did some work with a skidder, possibly freshening up ground because Mr. Houck was building houses in the subdivision near the golf course, heading out on Bloomfield Road out of Nelson County." Lavit said. "I know the commonwealth has been concerned with the use of heavy duty machinery. I know that."

Crystal Rogers

Crystal Rogers (WDRB File Photo)

But Lavit said his client is innocent and has been working with investigators.

"They asked him to tell the truth and cooperate, and he's done that," Lavit said. "They've interrogated him over a dozen times."

Court documents just unsealed show Steve Lawson was arrested in May for tampering with evidence but was released. He was out of jail until his arrest last week.

"(It was a) sweetheart deal," Lavit said. "You're on a $50,000 bond, released on your own recognizance. You're out of jail. 'We're going to question you from now on and talk to you about and cooperate with us.' He said yes, so he's out of jail. He's indicted on low felony, class D felony. To my knowledge, he agreed to cooperate with them."

Lavit thinks there should be more arrests and believe his client's arrest is a means to that end.

"I think it's an attempt by the commonwealth to screw in more pressure on my client, more pressure than what they've exerted this year, some of it in my presence, lot of pressure, lot of heat, lot of interrogation, heavy duty interrogating," he said. "I think this is an attempt to do even more."

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