LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Steve Lawson should not be granted a new trial in the death of Crystal Rogers because there was sufficient evidence found to convict him and no merit to alleged errors cited by the defense, according to a motion filed Monday by prosecutors.
The filing in Nelson Circuit Court comes about two months after attorneys for Lawson asked a judge to either grant him a new trial or throw out the May 30 guilty verdict on charges in connection with the death of Rogers, arguing he was denied a fair trial.
"The defendant has shown no grounds which would entitle him to a new trial," prosecutor Teresa Young wrote.
Lawson, 54, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence on May 30. The jury recommended 17 years in prison, and the formal sentencing date is scheduled for Wednesday in Nelson County.
In a motion filed June 4, the defense presented several arguments, including that the judge made a mistake by not allowing DNA testing on two hairs found in Crystal Rogers' car in 2015.
The hairs did not belong to Steve Lawson — they were too long to belong to him or either of his co-defendants — and were mentioned during the trial several times by the defense as possibly belonging to someone else involved.
Nelson County Judge Charles Simms III ruled before trial that the hairs did not have enough evidentiary relevance to make it worth spending months waiting for results and costing thousands of dollars.
In its response Monday, the prosecution argued defense attorneys presented no information about the hairs that would “exculpate” Lawson’s conduct or change the outcome of the trial.
For starters, according to the prosecution, Lawson admitted to tampering with Rogers’ vehicle.
The defense acknowledged throughout the trial that Steve Lawson was guilty of tampering with physical evidence for helping his son, Joseph Lawson, move Rogers' vehicle after she disappeared.
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.
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.
Darren Wolff, one of Steve Lawson’s attorneys, argued "that's the extent of his involvement."
He told the jury in his closing argument the prosecution didn't put on evidence to prove that Rogers was murdered or that Lawson had anything to do with her disappearance. The defense argued the other charge should have been dismissed for lack of evidence.
Young presented evidence she said proved Lawson's involvement, including testimony of a conversation in which Brooks told Lawson he wanted to "get rid" of Rogers.
Wolff and co-counsel Zach Buckler also claimed some trial spectators violated an order not to wear any clothing showing support for either side.
Their motion says "a plethora of people in the gallery were wearing pink," which was a symbol of a movement called "Team Crystal."
The prosecution responded there were only a few people wearing pink in the courtroom and the defense did not object at the time.
The 10-year investigation included more than 400,000 pages of written documents and hundreds of hours of video, prompting Steve Lawson’s attorneys to claim they were not given enough time to look at all of the evidence since they took over the case in August 2024 after Lawson fired his previous attorney.
But the prosecution pointed out that Judge Simms already gave the defense one continuance in February and most of the evidence turned over was not relevant to any of the defendants in the case.
The defense “fails to explain what would have possibly been president in the (evidence) that would have exculpated his admitted conduct,” according to the filing.
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 Joseph Lawson 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.
As part of the request for a new trial for Steve Lawson, the defense claimed a witness was prejudicial because she spoke with Rogers' mother, Sherry Ballard, outside the courtroom during a break and told her she hoped her testimony would bring Ballard "peace."
Young argues the defense didn’t show how the interaction prejudiced the case, as there was no mention of the content of the witness’s testimony and the testimony was the same she gave to a grand jury before the trial.
“Her testimony was not influenced or changed by an interaction with Ms. Ballard,” Young wrote.
Rogers, a 35-year-old mother of five, was last seen alive 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.
This story may be updated.
Previous Coverage:
Steve Lawson, convicted in Crystal Rogers' murder case, to be sentenced this week
Emotional courtroom video released in trial of Steve Lawson in Crystal Rogers murder case
Brooks Houck and Joseph Lawson found guilty of all charges in Crystal Rogers' murder
Steve Lawson found guilty on all charges in connection to Crystal Rogers' murder
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