Joseph Lawson starts prison sentence at eastern Kentucky penitentiary
– 3 min read
Joseph Lawson has been transferred to the Little Sandy Correctional Complex, where he will serve his 25-year prison sentence.
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Joseph Lawson has moved from the Nelson County Jail to the Little Sandy Correctional Complex, where he will serve his sentence for his role in the death of Crystal Rogers. J. Lawson was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence at trial in July.
He will be required to serve 20 years before becoming eligible for parole- the standard for any sentence of 24 years or more in Kentucky. Lawson was serving time on another crime when he was first arrested in the Rogers' case, so it's unclear how much 'time served' he has under his belt.
About Little Sandy Correctional Complex
Little Sandy Correctional Complex holds prisoners ranging from minimum to maximum-security. It is located in Elliott County, Kentucky, near Sandy Hook, which is about two hours east of Lexington.
The facility is operated by the Kentucky Department of Corrections and is considered the newest prison in the state, having opened in 2005.
What comes next in Joseph Lawson's case?
Both Steve Lawson, who was sentenced in August, and Joseph Lawson, who was sentenced earlier this month, have signaled their intent to appeal their convictions. But the appeals process is a marathon, not a sprint, and the timing on this next leg of the judicial journey could take years.
Defense attorneys for Joseph Lawson maintain his innocence. They have told me personally they believe in their heart of hearts he was not involved in the death of Crystal Rogers. Of course, their personal feelings won't be part of the appeal; instead, they are likely to rely heavily on cell phone tower data and a belief that the expert testimony used at trial was inaccurate.
Joseph Lawson's case will bypass the Kentucky Court of Appeals entirely and go straight to the Kentucky Supreme Court because he is facing more than 20 years in prison, which is the threshold for this move.
What’s next in the Crystal Rogers case: the expert deep dive
While the sentencing hearing in the Crystal Rogers case brings some finality to the investigation, you and I both know there are still a lot of questions. I worked with a legal analyst and law enforcement expert who’s connected to the case to find some answers. “I’m Shay McAlister, and
Shay McAlister
Neither Joseph Lawson or Steve Lawson have officially filed appeals- remember, that will take months. But they have both filed the initial paperwork in the lower court to indicate they intend to do so.
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