Man charged in Crystal Rogers case fires attorney during hearing

BARDSTOWN, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — One of the three men charged in the Crystal Rogers case reportedly fired his lawyer in court on Thursday.

Steven Lawson appeared before a Nelson County Judge on Thursday afternoon for a hearing intended to decide if the statements made in the 2023 interviews would be included in his trial, per court documents.

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FOX 56’s sister station, WDRB, was at the hearing and reported that as it began, Lawson raised his hand and requested a new attorney. Prosecutors backed Lawson’s request, stating that they “have serious concerns about whether Mr. Lawson has had conflict-free counsel in his representation.”

Lawson is currently represented by Ted Lavit.

On Aug. 5, Lawson allegedly called his family from the Nelson County Detention Center and claimed to have fired Lavit. WDRB reported that Lawson fired Lavit due to the fact he allegedly had a meeting with co-defendant Brooks Houck’s attorney “behind his back.”

Prosecutor Teresa Young cited peculiarities dating back to March, per WDRB, regarding the similarity of language and evidence used in motions filed on behalf of Lawson and Houck.

“It defies reason where they would be exactly the same,” Young said. “I don’t know what’s going on here.”

Lavit claimed that Lawson never brought up issues regarding his defense or previously requested a new attorney. WDRB reported that he went on to say he believed Lawson was aware of “what’s been happening.”

“I have done my best at this point in time without any conflict whatsoever regarding my client,” Lavit said. “I believe Mr. Lawson has been aware of what I’ve been doing on his behalf.”

WDRB reported that Judge Charles Simms III ordered the public defender’s office to appoint Lawson a new attorney by Aug. 22.

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Lawson was arrested in December 2023 for his alleged involvement in Rogers’ 2015 disappearance. According to an indictment, Lawson allegedly 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.

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