New Date Set For Mark Soto’s Jury Trial
ELKHART — Special Judge Evan Roberts, Elkhart Superior Court 1, has reset the jury trial for Mark Soto to April 11-13 and continuing April 18-21 in Kosciusko Circuit Court. The judge will not “entertain any additional continuance motions” in the case.
Soto, Warsaw, was indicted by a Kosciusko County grand jury and charged with three counts of corrupt business influence, C felonies and three counts of intimidation, all D felonies.
His trial was originally set to begin Dec. 13, jointly with a co-defendant, Kevin Bronson. However, Nov. 4, Roberts granted Soto’s request for a continuation of the trial. The reasons for the continuance noted in the motion, filed by Scott Lennox, counsel for Soto, were:
- A substantially high volume of “discovery,” far more than customary in most matters.
- Counsel has yet to receive a copy of grand jury testimony and has been unable to review transcripts crucial to prepare for depositions.
- Counsel has not received the state’s witness and exhibit list, which was to be provided on or before Oct. 14.
- Counsel anticipates numerous days of depositions prior to trial, which depositions, given the schedule of counsel and the State of Indiana, will not be able to be completed prior to the commencement of the trial.
Roberts, in his ruling Wednesday, Nov. 23, also set 12:30 p.m. March 27 as the plea bargain deadline and final status conference. These proceedings will be held in the courtroom of Elkhart Superior Court 1.