ELKHART — Elkhart Superior Court Judge Evan S. Roberts, has denied the state’s motions to change venue and to draw a jury pool from one or more contiguous counties in the trial of C. Aaron Rovenstine on indictment of 10 counts. The trial is still set to begin Feb. 7 for six days. That ruling was made without prejudice to reconsideration.

Roberts also denied the defendant’s second discovery request and ordered the state to disclose transcripts of the grand jury minutes containing the testimony of witnesses who testified and the state may call, at trial, within a reasonable period of time from Aug. 9.

Roberts issued the rulings Tuesday, Aug. 9. These matters were heard before the judge on July 8 in Elkhart, who had taken the motions under advisement.

In other rulings, Roberts granted the defense until Sept. 3, to file all motions directed at the indictment.

A status conference is still set for 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23.

A four-way telephone status conference between C. Aaron Rovenstine’s attorneys, the special prosecuting attorney and Roberts was held at noon Friday, July 8. The topic, according to the criminal case detail, was to hear arguments regarding discovery requests and objections.

Motions were recorded May 19 on a number of matters. One of those matters was a verified motion or objection to the state’s request for change of venue filed May 9, and the special prosecuting attorney’s verified motion to draw the jury pool from one or more contiguous counties to Kosciusko. Roberts set the request for argument and a status conference for 1 p.m. Sept. 23, in the courtroom of Elkhart Superior Court 1.

Additionally, on May 19, the defense filed a motion for extension of time, which was granted. The judge also notified the attorneys of record it will entertain additional arguments at noon Friday, July 8, telephonically. On May 31 the defense counsel filed a third discovery request. The prosecution filed a response and objection to specific requests. This matter was also noted to take place in the telephonic status conference July 8.

May 4, James H. Voyles, counsel for Rovenstine, filed a two-page objection of a jury chosen from outside Kosciusko County and a response to the state’s reply May 9.