WARSAW — Emotions were high this morning, May 23, as former Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine was sentenced in Kosciusko County Circuit Court. Rovenstine received a one-year suspended sentence to be served on formal probation. Due to pleading guilty to a felony count, Rovenstine will no longer be able to serve as sheriff in Kosciusko County.

Aaron Rovenstine

The morning got off to a slow start as more people were waiting for the sentencing than would fit into the courtroom. Once the courtroom attendance was settled, almost half of the audience was filled with uniformed Kosciusko County Deputies.

Paul Heaton took the stand to testify on his behalf. He has been a police officer since 2005, beginning his career with the Winona Lake Police Department. The intimidation charge that Rovenstine pled guilty to stemmed from a recorded phone conversation between the two on Aug. 14, 2015. Heaton was investigating a criminal case regarding Kevin Bronson and discovered he was intentionally locked out of the jail. He then called Rovenstine to discuss the situation.

According to Heaton, intimidating comments were made by Rovenstine during the phone call. Including, “You don’t want World War III” and “You don’t have all the cards.”

“I was taken aback,” said Heaton in regards to the call. “I took that as a threat and a threat that continued to this day.”

By the end of the phone conversation Heaton was able to re-enter the jail and Rovenstine apologized for his comments. Heaton testified that the intimidation didn’t stop after that phone call, even though that call was the only intimidation charge pled guilty to.

According to Heaton, from that day on he was “investigated” by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department. “I was in fear that they had gone to the level to diminish my credibility for doing my job.”

The state then produced an apology letter that Heaton was presented with yesterday. The letter was from Rovenstine but unsigned. The contents of the letter was not read in open court but Heaton commented that the letter only apologized for the one phone call and did not seem sincere.

Heaton then requested that Judge Stephen Bowers give Rovenstine a sentence that would be consistent with normal sentencing in the matter.

Former Kosciusko Detective JD Ayers then testified on behalf of the defense. He clarified that tips were brought to the department regarding Heaton and alleged criminal activity. These tips were then investigated like any other tip that comes through the department. He further stated that no criminal case was ever opened in regards to Heaton.

During cross examination, the degree to which Rovenstine was involved with the investigation of Heaton was questioned. Ayers testified that Rovenstine did not order him to investigate Heaton but that Rovenstine was aware of the investigation.

Rovenstine was then given the opportunity to speak before the Judge Bowers presented his sentence. “I’m sorry for this whole mess and I appreciate the prayers I have gotten and the support,” said Rovenstine while choking up. “I wish that I could live my life by the Golden Rule and in this regards I have failed.

Judge Bowers then spoke briefly about the case. He mentioned the enormous outpour of letters he received on behalf of Rovenstine’s character. These letters, and the perceived character of Rovenstine, made the case difficult for Judge Bowers to sentence. He mentioned that his wife gave him the advice to be creative with the sentencing.

With regards to the sentencing, he considered several mitigating factors. These included the unlikeliness to commit another crime, lack of criminal history, unlikeliness for the same circumstance to occur and the hardship it would place on the family. Judge Bowers considered the abused position of trust with the community as an aggravating factor. In all, he stated these factors balanced each other out.

Rovenstine was sentenced to serve one year on formal probation. In addition to his probation, Rovenstine will be required to serve 250 hours of community service with a Kosciusko County organization. Rovenstine and Warsaw Police Officer Paul Heaton will have to participate in a victim/offender reconciliation program.

Due to the felony conviction, Rovenstine may no longer possess any firearms. Judge Bowers noted that this conviction would harm his future job prospects and his family’s reputation.