Still Missing KY - Crystal Rogers, 35, Bluegrass Parkway, 3 July 2015 #4 *arrest in 2023*

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Niner said:
Looks like the Judge lower Steve's bond...

www.lex18.com

Judge lowers bond for man charged in connection with Crystal Rogers' death

A judge has decided to lower the bond for one of the men charged in connection with Crystal Rogers' death.
www.lex18.com www.lex18.com

Jan. 9, 2023
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (LEX 18) — A judge has decided to lower the bond for one of the men charged in connection with Crystal Rogers' death.

Rogers' ex, Brooks Houck, is charged with her murder. Steven and Joseph Lawson are charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Steven Lawson appeared in court last week to argue his $500,000 bond should be cut to $20,000.

The judge decided Tuesday to lower the bond by half to $250,000.
Click to expand...
I don't see Lawson being able to come up with $25,000 to bond out (10% of the $250k), unless there is some family member willing to sign over property or something to insure the bond.

Does anyone know if it was a cash only bond? I hope he has to sit there just like the rest of them until trial. His story stinks to high heaven to me. This group (in conjunction) killed an innocent young mother with children and her father IMO.

JMO
 
girlhasnoname said:
I don't see Lawson being able to come up with $25,000 to bond out (10% of the $250k), unless there is some family member willing to sign over property or something to insure the bond.

Does anyone know if it was a cash only bond? I hope he has to sit there just like the rest of them until trial. His story stinks to high heaven to me. This group (in conjunction) killed an innocent young mother with children and her father IMO.

JMO
Click to expand...

The article did not say whether it was all Cash bond. But the previous $500K was cash only. So I would "assume" the $250K one is also.... JMHO
 
I am going to post these separately.

Thursday, February 8th:
*Pretrial Hearing (@ 1pm ET) - KY – Crystal M. Rogers (35) (reported missing July 3, 2015; car (with flat tire) was found July 5, 2015 on Bluegrass Parkway near mile marker 14 with keys in ignition & her belongings (phone & purse) in car, Bardstown). – *Brooks William Houck (33 @ time of crime/41/now 42) arrested, charged & indicted (9/27/23) & arraigned (10/5/23) with felony murder & tampering with physical evidence. Bond $10M CASH Only! Reduction of bond (to $500K) denied (10/9/23). Was transferred (9/27/23) from Nelson County jail to Hardin County Detention Center. Was transferred (12/13/23) to Oldham County Detention Center.
Houck was official named as a suspect October, 2015.
Judge Charles Simms III presiding. Defense attorneys Brian Butler & Michael Denbow.
Case & Court info from 7/23/20 thru 1/24/23 reference post #158 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ay-3-july-2015-4-arrest-in-2023.690447/page-8
9/27/23 Update: Brooks Houck was arrested & indicted Wednesday, 9/27/23, according to FBI Louisville. Houck was arrested "without incident" on charges stemming from the Rogers investigation, the FBI wrote. The indictment is sealed & more details will be released at his arraignment in early October. It is unclear if a bond has been set. Attorney Brian Butler, who represents Houck, declined to comment. Houck, who had been Rogers' boyfriend, was named as a suspect three months after she disappeared. He was the last person to see her alive. He has been charged with murder & tampering with evidence. Bond is set at $10M & no contact with Rogers family. Arraignment hearing on 10/5/23 in the Nelson County Circuit Court. Houck was moved to Hardin County 9/27/23.
10/2/23 Update: On Monday Houck's attorney Brian Butler requested (filed) that the $10 million bond be lowered to $500K cash & with GPS monitoring with work release & put on home incarceration if released as current bond is excessive, punitive & serves no purpose other than to punish Mr. Houck. His arraignment is set for 10/5/23 & the bond motion will be made the same day.
10/5/23 Update: The defense team is asking for a $500K cash bond & GPS monitoring. The judge has turned it over to the prosecution for a response to the bond motion. Special Prosecutor Shane Young said he has never asked for a $10 million bond until this case. This is the first multi-millionaire he has ever prosecuted for murder. The Judge will take some time to review the arguments before he decides whether or not to lower Houck's bond. Next pretrial hearing on 2/8/24 @ 1pm. Pretrial is set for February to see if discovery is complete & they are ready for the actual trial. Shane Young said he would be ready for a trial in the summer of 2024, but Defense attorney Brian Butler said "there is no way Mr. Houck can get a fair trial in 2024." Butler said he plans to make a motion to try this case in another county. Special Prosecutor Young said the discovery is going to be "over a terabyte" of evidence. Prosecutors estimate there is thousands of documents of evidence in this case.
for more info see posts #165 to 167 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ay-3-july-2015-4-arrest-in-2023.690447/page-9
Prosecutor says gun used in Tommy Ballard murder may have been bought from Nick Houck who was allegedly using a fake name. This is the first time prosecutor has publicly mentioned Brooks Houck’s possible connection to Ballard’s death. DA Young says they are investigating Tommy Ballard murder as possibly linked to Houck. They said it matches four of the five criteria they use to match, but they are still waiting on some testing.
10/9/23 Update: Nelson County Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III issued the ruling Monday, denying a request by Houck's attorneys to lower the bond to $500K with GPS monitoring. In his order denying the bond reduction, Simms expressed concern for the safety of other people involved in the case if Houck is able to post a reduced bond & be released on home incarceration. "There is reason to believe that the Commonwealth may have one or more cooperating witnesses, and this Court is gravely concerned for the safety of any such witness(es) & any other individuals connected to this case," Simms wrote.
10/10/23 Update: Houck's attorney has filed an appeal after a judge on Monday denied his request to lower his $10 million bond. Brian Butler filed the appeal with the Kentucky Court of Appeals just hours after Nelson County Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III said Houck’s bond is “reasonable to assure Brooks’ appearance, to adequately protect cooperating witness(es) & other individuals associated with this case, and to better assure the integrity of this proceeding.”
10/24/23 Update: Houck’s attorneys, Brian Butler & Michael Denbow filed an affidavit on Tuesday, Oct. 24 to remove Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms from the case claiming he’s biased against Houck. The document claims there are numerous demonstrations of bias against Houck. The affidavit says, “Judge Simm’s behavior with regard to Houck is such that his ‘impartiality might reasonably be questioned from the perspective of a reasonable observer who is informed of all the surrounding facts & circumstances.’” The document also points to Houck’s $10 million cash bond, calling it “grossly excessive” & attorneys saying it points to Simm’s inability to be impartial.
10/26/23 Update: On Thursday, Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Laurence B. VanMeter weighed in on the request. According to court documents filed Wednesday, the Chief Justice is remanding the defense attorneys’ request to dismiss Judge Simms & instead insisting they file a new motion in court asking the judge to take himself off the case.
11/15/23 Update: The special prosecutor for the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the Houck trial, has filed a motion objecting to the removal of Judge Charles Simms. Houck’s attorneys claim Simms is biased against their client. The prosecutors’ motion said the court considered “the nature of the offense, the substantial resources of the defendant, as well as the prior interaction with witnesses,” in determining the amount of the bond. It also noted the comments made by the judge were not directed at Houck & therefore did not show bias against him. Attorneys for the Commonwealth said Houck “failed to meet his burden for disqualification of Judge Simms.”
11/22/23 Update: Judge Charles Simms will not recuse himself from the case. Attorneys for Houck filed a motion last month asking Judge Simms to recuse himself due to perceived bias stemming from a family court case six years ago. On Wednesday, Judge Simms filed his response to motion, saying he will indeed remain on the bench. "There is absolutely no language in the entire nine-page Order, including the one sentence that Brooks relies upon, where this judge rendered any opinion whatsoever about Brooks' guilt or innocence as to Rogers' disappearance & presumed death," Judge Simms wrote. In Judge Simms' response Wednesday, he pointed out every decision he made in that previous case was to the benefit of Houck. The judge also defended the $10 million bond issued for Houck. Judge Simms said the special prosecutor & grand jury determined the amount. He also said Houck is about 17 times wealthier than the average defendant.
11/28/23 Update: The Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled that Houck's Judge Charles Simms will preside over the Rogers murder trial. The Kentucky Court of Appeals is upholding the decision to keep the bond for Houck at $10 million.
12/13/23 Update: Houck was transferred to Oldham County Detention Center, no reason was told why he was moved.
12/21/23 Update: Crystal's mother Sherry Ballard has filed a wrongful Death suit on behalf of Crystal & her children against Brooks W. Houck. See post #378 on page 19 thread #4.
*Joseph Stephen Lee Allen Lawson (24 @ time of crime/32) - Pretrial hearing on 2/8/24.
*Steven Eugene Lawson (48 @ time of crime/53) – Status hearing on 2/8/24.
 
Thursday, February 8th:
*Status Hearing (@ 1pm ET) - KY – Crystal M. Rogers (35) (reported missing July 3, 2015; car (with flat tire) was found (July 5, 2015) on Bluegrass Parkway near mile marker 14 with keys in ignition & her belongings (phone & purse) in car, Bardstown). *Steven Eugene Lawson (48 @ time of crime/53) indicted, arrested & charged (12/7/23) & arraigned (12/21/23) with conspiracy to commit murder & tampering with physical evidence. $500K Cash only bond. Bond reduced to $250K (1/9/24). He's currently incarcerated in Harrison County, IN.
Special prosecutor Shane Young. Defense attorney Theodore Lavit.
Court info from 12/7/23 thru 12/12/23 reference post #384 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...y-3-july-2015-4-arrest-in-2023.690447/page-20
12/21/23 Update: The third suspect Steven Lawson appeared in court via zoom from the Nelson County Detention Center & attorney Ted Lavit pleaded not guilty on behalf of his client. Lawson is charged with tampering with physical evidence & conspiracy to commit murder, with court documents alleging the crimes occurred on or around July 3 or 4, 2015 - the same dates Rogers is believed to have disappeared. His bond set at $500K. Lavit requested a bond reduction for his client, which was set on Dec. 20. Lawson’s bond is $500K full-cash. Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III opted to keep the bond the same, but a formal bond hearing is expected to take place 1/4/24. A status hearing on 2/8/24 @ 1pm.
1/4/24 Update: Defense attorney Ted Lavit said Lawson has been cooperative with authorities on agreeing to provide testimony on the case. "Extensive amount of contact," Lavit says, has been made between both parties -- both with and without counsel. "It's not in the best interest to Mr. Lawson to go before you & testify what's in the discovery," he said, adding that it "could be part of the evidence deduced at this trial." The defense wants the judge to reduce the bond from $500K be reduced to $20K & alternatively, he offered a $40K real estate bond. Special Prosecutor Shane Young argued against bond reduction. The Judge will take a 5-day break to decide if Lawson's bond will be reduced. Next status hearing on 2/8/24 @ 1pm.
1/9/24 Update: A Nelson County judge granted Lawson’s motion to reduce his bond from $500K to $250K. But there are certain conditions Lawson must follow. He must adhere to a dusk-to-dawn curfew, except for going to work & medical emergencies. He must remain drug & alcohol free & he can have no contact with Crystal Rogers’ family.
*Brooks William Houck (33 @ time of crime/41) arrested & indicted (9/27/23) with felony murder & tampering with physical evidence. Pretrial hearing on 2/8/24.
*Joseph Stephen Lee Allen Lawson (24 @ time of crime/32) - Pretrial hearing on 2/8/24.
 
Thursday, February 8th:
*Bond Reduction Hearing (@ am ET) - KY – Crystal M. Rogers (35) (reported missing July 3, 2015; car (with flat tire) was found (July 5, 2015) on Bluegrass Parkway near mile marker 14 with keys in ignition & her belongings (phone & purse) in car, Bardstown). POI – Brooks Houck (33 @ time of crime/now 41) BF official named suspect Oct. 2015. - *Joseph Stephen Lee Allen Lawson (24 @ time of crime/32) arrested, indicted & charged (7/24/23) with criminal conspiracy to commit murder & charged (6/21/23) with complicity in tampering with physical evidence. Bond $50K unsecured bond (tampering) & $550K Cash bond (conspiracy). Plead not guilty. Held in Grayson County Kentucky Detention Center.
According to the indictment, on July 3, 2015 or July 4, 2015, "the above-named Defendant Joseph L. Lawson 32, committed the offense of Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Murder, when, with the intention of promoting or facilitating the crime, when he agreed to aid one or more persons in the planning or commission of the crime or an attempt or solicitation to commit the crime, when he, and/or a co-conspirator, intentionally caused the death of another."
Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III presiding. Prosecutor AG Shane Young. Defense attorney Kevin Coleman.
Case & Court info from 7/23/20 thru 12/8/23 reference post #388 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...y-3-july-2015-4-arrest-in-2023.690447/page-20
12/28/23 Update: Attorneys for Joseph Lawson have filed a motion for reduced bond & home incarceration in the Nelson Circuit Court. According to the motion, Lawson’s bail is set for a $50K unsecured bond with the condition of continued cooperation with the Commonwealth on the charge of tampering with physical evidence. On the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, his bail is set as a $500K cash bond. Lawson’s attorneys, Kevin Coleman & Robert Boyd, argue that the bail is "excessive, oppressive & amounts to a denial of bail considering his socio-economic status, his presumption of innocence & his anticipated conduct if released.” In requesting home incarceration, his lawyers argue Lawson is not a danger to the community or a flight risk as his paraplegia restricts his ability to move independently. They say his movements will be tracked through GPS monitoring. The motion asks for his bail to be reduced to a $50K unsecured bond, or a “meaningful reduction” in his bond that considers his socio-economic position, as well as the home incarceration with GPS monitoring, medical releases & attorney-office visit releases. Pretrial conference hearing on 1/5/24 @ 2pm.
1/5/24 Update: The bond reduction hearing for Joseph Lawson didn’t happen. Lawson did not show up in person, which caused a hiccup. Both parties agreed they want to have him in person before settling a few things. Joseph, who appeared via Zoom, was moved to the state reformatory in Oldham County & lawyers said they didn’t want to address bond or a trial date until he was in prison. So, they pushed the hearing from Friday until 2/8/24.
*Brooks William Houck (33 @ time of crime/41) arrested & indicted (9/27/23) with felony murder & tampering with physical evidence. Pretrial hearing on 2/8/24.
*Steven Eugene Lawson (48 @ time of crime/53) – Status hearing on 2/8/24.
Not charged (yet) in Crystal’s case - KY – Crystal M. Rogers (35) (reported missing July 3, 2015; car (with flat tire) was found (July 5, 2015) on Bluegrass Parkway near mile marker 14 with keys in ignition & her belongings (phone & purse) in car, Bardstown) - *Danny Singleton () indicted (Dec, 2023) & charged (9/12/23) with 38 counts of 1st degree perjury to the grand jury (12/16/15). Plead not guilty. Bond $200K.
9/12/23 Update: Police say Danny Singleton lied to a grand jury when he testified about Rogers' disappearance. Singleton appeared before a judge this morning, where a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. Singleton was given a public defender, who may not be his actual attorney in the long run. The attorney said she may have a conflict of interest, that she plans to disclose to the judge and the Commonwealth's Attorney. Singleton worked for Brooks Houck, Rogers' longtime boyfriend & the only suspect in her disappearance last summer. He was indicted in December on 38 counts of perjury. The public defender asked that Singleton's bond of $200K be lowered, but the Commonwealth objected, saying he is a flight risk. This is the second time someone connected to Houck has come under police fire recently. Houck's brother, a former Bardstown police officer, was fired from the department in October.
 
@WLKYLaurenAdams

It’s a packed courtroom as the 3 men charged in connection to the disappearance & murder of Crystal Rogers (including her boyfriend, Brooks Houck) are set to appear at 1 pm for a pre-trial conference.

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As we wait for the 3 suspects in the Crystal Rogers case to appear in a Nelson County courtroom we’ve learned we will not be allowed to share updates on social media as the proceedings are underway.
More coming up on @WLKY at 5 & 6.


1:00 PM · Feb 8, 2024
 
Leigh Searcy
@LSearcLex

We’re in Bardstown for the #CrysyalRogers case. All 3 suspects due in court. That’s Brooks Houck’s mother on left in the pink and Crystal’s mother on the right in a black suit.


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12:13 PM · Feb 8, 2024





@LEX18News

LEX 18 is in Bardstown for a court proceeding on the Crystal Rogers case. All three suspects, including Crystal's then-boyfriend Brooks Houck, are due in court.These photos, taken before court started, show the Houck family on one side and the Ballards on the other.

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1:06 PM · Feb 8, 2024
 
BARDSTOWN, Ky. — This story will be continuously updated throughout Thursday. Scroll below for live updates.
All three men charged in the death of Crystal Rogers will appear before a Nelson County judge Thursday afternoon.


Simms sets a trial date on Feb. 10, 2025 at 9 a.m.
Another status hearing will take place on March 21, 2024 at 1 p.m.


www.whas11.com

Trial date set in Crystal Rogers’ death investigation; What happened in court

WHAS11 News will be providing live updates from inside the courtroom on Thursday. This story will be frequently updated.
www.whas11.com www.whas11.com

Updated: 2:17 PM EST February 8, 2024

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Credit: WHAS11 News
Brooks Houck appears in court for a hearing in Nelson County. | Feb. 8, 2024
 
 
www.whas11.com

Trial date set in Crystal Rogers’ death investigation; What happened in court

WHAS11 News will be providing live updates from inside the courtroom on Thursday. This story will be frequently updated.
www.whas11.com www.whas11.com


Live updates​

2:03 p.m.
Ted Lavit spoke to media after the hearing.
He said this is the first time Joseph and Steve Lawson have seen each other since being arrested. He said the father and son said "sorry" to each other in passing.
1:58 p.m.
Simms said he will have a decision on the bond reduction by the end of day Monday.
1:53 p.m.
The prosecution objects to reduced bond due to the nature of Joseph Lawson's alleged crimes. An attorney points out his numerous prior felony convictions.
"The reason he is in prison today is because he could not follow the guidance of the courts," the attorney argued. "No reason to believe he could follow the rules today."


1:49 p.m.
Lawson's bond is currently set at $500,000. His attorney, Kevin Coleman, is looking to have the bond reduced to $50,000.
He's also asking for Lawson to be put on home incarceration. Previously, Simms approved a bond reduction for Steve Lawson.
Coleman said Joseph is paraplegic which lessens his ability to be a flight risk and a danger to others.
1:47 p.m.
Steven Lawson and Brooks Houck have been taken from the courtroom. The judge is now focusing on Joseph Lawson's bond reduction hearing.

1:46 p.m.
Young is looking to have all three men tried together, and all three defense attorneys agreed to the Feb. 10 trial date, but Houck's attorney believes there will be an objection to that eventually.

1:45 p.m.
Simms sets a trial date on Feb. 10, 2025 at 9 a.m.
Another status hearing will take place on March 21, 2024 at 1 p.m.
1:43 p.m.
Young and the suspects attorneys believe a trial could begin in mid-February 2025 based on the complexity of the nature of the case itself.
But the defense said that's subject to them going through the discovery, which includes evidence in the Jason Ellis and Tommy Ballard case.
1:42 p.m.
Young said over 1.1 terabytes of discovery has been turned over from three different agencies. He expects that to be completed on March 15.
Prosecution believes there is less than a terabyte to review.
1:39 p.m.
Brooks Houck has entered the courtroom.


1:38 p.m.
Joseph and Steven Lawson have entered the courtroom.
1:31 p.m.
Steve Lawson's attorney, Ted Lavit, and Brooks Houck's attorney, Brian Butler, have entered the courtroom and have sat down with a team of attorneys.

1:30 p.m.
A deputy motioned to Joseph Lawson's attorneys. It appears Lawson has arrived at the courthouse. Both attorneys have now gone upstairs.
Special Prosecutor Shane Young has entered the courtroom.
1:18 p.m.
Nelson County Sheriff Ramon Pineiroa told WHAS11 the holdup on the proceedings is because one of the suspects hasn't arrived at the courthouse yet.
Pineiroa did confirm all three suspects will physically be in the courtroom.
Judge Simms is currently having a private meeting with Brooks Houck and Steve Lawson's attorneys.
1:14 p.m.
Nelson County Judge Charles Simms has yet to enter the courtroom. The hearings were scheduled to begin 15 minutes earlier.

1:06 p.m.
Joseph Lawson's attorney, Kevin Coleman, has entered the courtroom. It's still unclear if Joseph's hearing will be the first of the day.
Attorney Ted Lavit, who represents Steve Lawson, briefly appeared in the courtroom minutes earlier, but deputies directed him to a meeting room upstairs.

12:38 p.m.
The courtroom is packed with community and media.

12:32 p.m.
Courtroom doors have opened for the family.
12:30 p.m.
Attorneys for all three suspects have been seen entering Nelson County District Court A. The courtroom doors have yet to open.
12:10 p.m.
Till Ballard, Crystal’s grandfather has arrived. Community members and family are filling up the Nelson County courthouse lobby waiting to be let in. the courtroom.

Credit: WHAS11 News
Till Ballard walks inside the courtroom, an hour ahead of the hearing for Brooks Houck, Steve Lawson and Joseph Lawson. | Feb. 8, 2024
12:01 p.m.
Brooks Houck’s mother Rosemary Houck and Brook’s girlfriend Crystal Maupin have arrived at the courthouse.
11:59 a.m.
Crystal’s mother, Sherry Ballard, has arrived with family members. She told WHAS11 she’s “nervous” for court hearings today.
Lawson. | Feb. 8, 2024

11:58 a.m.
WHAS11 is in Nelson County for court hearings in the Crystal Rogers case.
Doors to the courtroom are expected to open around 12:30 p.m.
 
Please note all the images are credited to WHAS11

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Till Ballard walks inside the courtroom, an hour ahead of the hearing for Brooks Houck, Steve Lawson and Joseph Lawson. | Feb. 8, 2024

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Rosemary Houck walks inside the courtroom, an hour ahead of the hearing for her son, Brooks. | Feb. 8, 2024

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Sherry Ballard walks inside the courtroom, an hour ahead of the hearing for Brooks Houck, Steve Lawson, and Joseph Lawson. | Feb. 8, 2024
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Reporter Shay McAlister stands outside of the Nelson County courtroom while Brooks Houck, Steve Lawson and Joseph Lawson are inside for their hearing.
 
Last edited:
Please note all the images are credited to WHAS11

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Brooks Houck's attorney, Brian Butler, waits for his clients court hearing to begin in Nelson County. | Feb. 8, 2024

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Joseph Lawson's attorney Kevin Coleman. | Feb. 8, 2024

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The Nelson County courtroom is packed with family, media and community members. | Feb. 8, 2024
 
Please note all the images are credited to WHAS11
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Joseph Lawson talks to his attorneys in Nelson County courtroom during bond reduction hearing. | Feb. 8, 2024

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Brooks Houck appears in court for a hearing in Nelson County. | Feb. 8, 2024

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Steve Lawson's attorney, Ted Lavit, waits for his clients court hearing to begin in Nelson County. | Feb. 8, 2024
 
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