The Kentucky judge overseeing the first of three trials related to the disappearance and presumed murder of mother of five Crystal Rogers, who vanished after spending time with her boyfriend and his family over the 4th of July weekend in 2015, has set strict limitations on the public and media for the trial.
According to WDRB, Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III’s order on Tuesday “is unusually restrictive for trials in Kentucky.”
“Unfortunately, this case has generated tremendous interest among the news media and the general public which has resulted in a ‘circuslike atmosphere,’” Simms wrote in his order.
Rogers was last seen with Brooks Houck, a prominent and wealthy local businessman, over the holiday weekend. Her car was later found running on the side of Bluegrass Parkway with her purse still inside. Her body was not been found.
Houck and friends Steve Lawson and his son Joseph Lawson were later arrested in connection with the case after a lengthy investigation. The Lawsons were charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence. Houck was charged with murder and tampering with evidence and has been held on a $10 million bond since his arrest.
Steve Lawson’s trial is set to begin on May 27 while his son and Houck go on trial later in June.
Simms noted in his order that it was the first time in his more than 20 years as a judge that he’s barred cameras in his courtroom. The media and public will be allowed in the courtroom, he said, but no electronic devices will be allowed, and observers are barred from disseminating “to the public any information it ascertains” as the trial is in session.
Recordings will be made available through the court.
Simms noted that he has allowed reporters to bring phones into the courtroom for hearings leading up to the trial but noted that some of them violated his rules and actually livestreamed the proceedings.
“This Court finds that the trial proceeding must be conducted in a dignified manner without the distraction of anyone recording this proceeding,”, Simms said in his order.
“Unfortunately, this Court believes that it must impose limitations herein to assure a fair trial,” the judge said.
The judge said a media room will be set up where reporters can go during breaks to file reports.
All of the trials have been moved to Bowling Green from Nelson County because of the publicity surrounding the case.
Steve Lawson’s indictment accuses him of agreeing to “aid one or more persons in the planning or commission” of a murder and that he “destroyed, mutilated, concealed, or removed” physical evidence on July 3 or 4, 2015. Joseph Lawson is charged similarly.
Houck is accused of “acting alone or in complicity with another” to kill Rogers as well as destroying or otherwise concealing evidence.
