ELKHART — A telephonic conference call between all parties involved in the allegations against C. Aaron Rovenstine, actually took place in the Elkhart Superior No. 1 courtroom July 8.

Originally Special Judge Evan S. Roberts, Special Prosecutor E. Nelson Chipman and attorneys Jennifer M. Lukemeyer, Michael L. Miner and James H. Voyles, counsel for Aaron Rovenstine, were to hold a telephonic conference call at noon. Instead Chipman appeared in person at the court, moving the hearing into the courtroom. Telephonic appearances were held with Chipman’s deputy prosecutor, Tammy Napier and Rovenstine’s attorneys Voyles and Lukemeyer making telephonic appearances.

Documents entered in Kosciusko Circuit Court Wednesday, July 13, state the arguments were heard on eight different matters. However, the extent of the discussions was not noted. The issues addressed were:

• The state’s motion to draw the jury pool from one or more contiguous counties to Kosciusko filed April 15.
• Defendant’s objection to the oral motion for change of venue, filed May 4.
• Defendant’s verified motion to strike or in the alternative, objection to the state’s request for change of venue, filed May 9.
• The state’s verified motion to draw jury pool from one or more contiguous counties to Kosciusko, filed May 9.
• Defendant’s second discovery request, filed May 16.
• Defendant’s motion for extension of time, filed May 16.
• Defendant’s third discovery request, filed May 26.
• State’s response to defendant’s second and third discovery requests and objection to specific requests, filed May 31.

An order issued by Roberts, states “as noted on the record, all pending issues are taken under advisement and no party has an objection to the court taken in excess of 30 days to render a ruling.”

The order further states by agreement of counsel and as a modification to the court’s order April 19, the attorneys of record must send all filings directly to the court staff of Elkhart Superior Court 1 electronically with an electronic copy to opposing counsel. Upon receipt, the court staff of Elkhart Superior Court No. 1 will affix an Elkhart County stamp to the filing and forward the filing, along with an entry, to the clerk of Kosciusko Circuit Court with all notices sent electrically by the court staff of Elkhart Superior Court No. 1.

Elkhart Superior Court No. 1 staff confirmed a status conference in that courtroom is still scheduled for Sept. 23, for all three individuals indicted. Rovenstine’s will begin at 1 p.m. followed by Mark Soto at 2 p.m. and concluding with Kevin Bronson at 3 p.m. It had originally been noted arguments regarding the change of venue and where to draw the jury pool from would be heard at that time.