Ky. Court of Appeals rules against reducing Brooks Houck’s bond in murder case

November 28, 2023

Hannah Woosley-Collins,

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WTVQ) — One day after the state Supreme Court ruled against Brooks Houck’s request for a new judge to preside over his murder trial, a state Appeals Court has also denied his request for a lower bond.

On Tuesday, the Court of Appeals ruled Houck will stay in jail on a $10 million bond.

His attorneys filed an appeal just hours after Nelson County Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms said Houck’s bond is “reasonable to assure Brooks’ appearance, to adequately protect cooperating witness(es) and other individuals associated with this case, and to better assure the integrity of this proceeding.”

According to ABC affiliate WHAS, the Court of Appeals reviewed the ruling and issued an order affirming it. The appeals court wrote in the order, “Houck has failed to sufficiently meet the burden of proof demonstrating the bond set is excessive.”

Yesterday, the state Supreme Court also ruled Judge Simms can remain on the bench for Houck’s murder trial.

Houck’s attorneys argued Judge Simms should recuse himself for alleged bias.

Chief Justice Lawrence B. VanMeter filed the motion to deny replacing Judge Charles Simms on the case.

Houck was named the main suspect in Crystal Rogers’ disappearance in 2015 when then-Sheriff Ed Mattingly said he had eight pages of circumstances that led him to believe Houck was responsible for her disappearance. He was not arrested until September of 2023 when he was indicted and charged with her murder and tampering with physical evidence.