KOSCIUSKO — The sentencing for Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine is scheduled to take place tomorrow morning, May 23.

Aaron Rovenstine

Rovenstine pled guilty to intimidation, a level 6 felony, on April 5. The remaining nine charges, also felonies, were dismissed pursuant to the plea agreement. Those charges included three counts of bribery, one count of assisting a criminal and five counts of official misconduct.

The sentencing for a level 6 felony could carry a six month to 2 1/2 year sentence and up to a $10,000 fine.

Rovenstine was accused of taking bribes of $40,000 to allow unmonitored and unrecorded visits between Kevin Bronson and Grace College Professor Mark Soto during Bronson’s incarceration in the Kosciusko County Jail. Rovenstine was also accused of communicating a threat to a law enforcement officer, Paul Heaton with the Warsaw Police Department, placing him in fear of retaliation in a criminal investigation while Bronson was incarcerated.

The charge that Rovenstine pled guilty to was intimidation of Heaton. The charging documents state, “Rovenstine did knowingly communicate a threat to Paul Heaton, a law enforcement officer, with the intent that Paul Heaton be placed in fear of retaliation for a prior lawful act, to wit: initiating a criminal investigation of the conduct of Kevin Bronson while Kevin Bronson was incarcerated at the Kosciusko County Jail. The grand jury further charges and presents that from on or about the 20th day of March, 2015 to and including the 9th day of April, 2015 at and within Kosciusko County, Indiana.”

Once sentencing occurs, Rovenstine will no longer be able to serve as sheriff. A new sheriff would be selected by Kosciusko County Republican Party leaders within 30 days of the sentencing.