Marshall County Chief Deputy Prosecutor, Tami Napier, and Deputy Prosecutor, Matthew Sarber, spent six days in Kosciusko County Circuit Court this week as special prosecutors on a case originally handed down by a grand jury in February, 2016 against three defendants.
The defendants, Former Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine, Kevin Bronson, and Dr. Mark Soto each chose different ways to proceed with their defenses.
Rovenstine originally faced ten counts, including bribery and official misconduct, but a plea deal struck just before his trial dismissed nine of them. He pleaded guilty to intimidation, a level 6 felony. Special Judge Stephen Bowers said if circumstances were different he would have put Rovenstine in prison.
The sentencing was for a one-year probation and 250 hours of community service. He also had to step down as sheriff due to the felony conviction.
Bronson testified against Soto this week and received immunity for his testimony. He is being held in the Elkhart County Jail under a seven year sentence. He has a lengthy criminal history and testified that he is a member if the Aryan Brotherhood.
Bronson and Soto were allegedly involved in operating Young Dragon Enterprises, an organization accused of racketeering.
Soto, a minister and former professor at Grace College, chose a jury trial. After six hours of deliberation, the jury found him guilty of three of the six counts against him. Three of the guilty verdicts were for corrupt business influence and one was for intimidation.
Several witnesses testified during the trial that they told the Aryan Brotherhood would do harm to their families if they did not help fund a proposed movie of Bronson’s life.
Sentencing has been set for September 28.
