A judge forced prosecutors to reveal their lead witness Tuesday- and it's the former prosecutor who once refused to bring this case at all.

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Nick Houck was supposed to stand trial in seven weeks. Not anymore.

During a hearing Tuesday in Nelson Circuit Court, Judge Charles Simms granted the Commonwealth's request to delay the trial- over strong objection from Houck's defense attorney- pushing the case all the way to February 2027. But the real story of the day wasn't the delay itself. It was why prosecutors needed it, and the name that got said out loud in open court: Terry Geoghegan.

If you've followed this case, or the Crystal Rogers case more broadly, that name should stop you in your tracks. We're going to dive in- because I have thoughts, and so do several of the investigators who have worked this case over the years. You're going to hear from them later. But first- what happened in court today.

Nick Houck, the fired Bardstown police officer- and brother of Brooks Houck- is charged with perjury tied to statements he gave during a 2015 grand jury proceeding. Tuesday's hearing was billed as a routine status check, but two motions were on the table: a Commonwealth request to continue (delay) the trial, and a defense motion to dismiss the indictment entirely.