BARDSTOWN, Ky. — A Nelson County Circuit Court judge has denied Steven Lawson’s motion to dismiss charges against him in the Crystal Rogers case. 

Lawson filed a motion to dismiss on March 5, claiming he was promised immunity if he cooperated with prosecutors and police. However, the court found there was never a written immunity agreement between Lawson and the Commonwealth, adding “Lawson failed to call any witnesses about an alternative immunity agreement, including his attorney who was present for most of these discussions and/or statements.” 

The court said the Commonwealth’s offer of immunity was based on Lawson being truthful when talking with police and investigators but found he lied in interviews, despite being aware of the requirement and Lawson’s counsel saying he did not “deliberately lie.” The judge’s order indicates that Lawson never denied lying to authorities.

The court also said a lot of the information Lawson provided to authorities was inconsistent with the investigation, such as his relationship with Brooks Houck, Rogers’ boyfriend at the time of her presumed murder, the placement of Rogers’ vehicle on the Bluegrass Parkway and an early morning telephone call between Lawson and Houck on July 4, 2015. 

“These recordings clearly establish that Lawson provided wildly inconsistent information about matters that are material to the Commonwealth’s investigation and prosecution,” the court said after reviewing all his interviews and grand jury testimonies. 

Lawson is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence in the case. His son, Joseph, faces the same charges. Houck is charged with Rogers’ murder. All are being tried together, but Houck and Steven Lawson’s attorneys have filed motions against consolidating the cases. The judge hasn’t ruled on the motion.

Wednesday, July 3 marks nine years since the 35-year-old mother of five disappeared. Her car was found abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkway. Her body has never been found.