Judge seals video from Steve Lawson trial in Crystal Rogers case pending future trials

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The judge in the Crystal Rogers case is sealing all video recordings from the recent trial of Steve Lawson.

In an unprecedented move, Nelson County Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III said the recordings will be sealed until the completion of jury trials for all defendants in the case.

Steve Lawson, 54, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence on May 30. The jury recommended 17 years in prison. Lawson's attorneys have asked his for his conviction to be thrown out, but his formal sentencing date is scheduled for August 6 in Nelson County.

Rogers, a 35-year-old mother of five from Bardstown, was last seen alive on July 3, 2015, during the Fourth of July weekend.

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.

Brooks Houck, Rogers' boyfriend at the time of her disappearance, is charged with her murder and will stand trial beginning June 24 in Bowling Green with Lawson’s son Joseph. Joseph Lawson is facing the same charges as his father, conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence.

Trials for the three co-defendants were moved to Warren County because of publicity surrounding the Rogers case.

On May 13, Judge Simms ordered that there be no cameras, cell phones, laptops or electronic devices in the courtroom for Steve Lawson's trial. He also ruled against the news media, including WDRB, being allowed to have a camera in the courtroom.

The news media filed an emergency motion on May 25 asking for a pool camera in the courtroom for Lawson's trial. That motion was denied. The ruling meant the new media had to cover Lawson's trial with handwritten notes from reserved front row seating.

Simms said in an order on Friday that release of trial video could possibly be watched by potential jurors and witnesses scheduled to testify in the second trial.

The judge said "the Court is cognizant of the public's right to inspect or copy court records and documents, but cited case law supporting his assertion that the "court's inherent right to control access and the public's presumptive right of access is 'left to the sound discretion of the trial court, a discretion to be exercised in light of the relevant facts and circumstances of the particular case."

The order said "upon completion of the co-defendants trials, the Nelson County Clerk shall be allowed to release copies of the defendant's trial proceeding to the news media."

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