Two More Witnesses For Prosecution Take The Stand
WARSAW — Brief testimony was heard from Rebecca Soto and Bryan Hickerson Thursday afternoon in the Dr. Mark Soto trial before Special Judge Stephen Bowers recessed the trial until 8:30 a.m. Friday.
Rebecca Soto was called to the witness stand by Special Prosecutor Tami Napier to verify the writing of a will by Kevin Bronson. Rebecca Soto, who is a licensed lawyer but currently a professor of law and criminal justice at Ivy Tech, Grace College and Ancilla College, verified she did prepare the will based on information given to her by Bronson. The will was prepared in 2011.
She testified she met with Bronson, whom she had known since the age of 16-17, in a conference room at the county jail, where he handed her a handwritten note. “I agreed to put the information into a document to be signed,” she testified. Napier questioned Rebecca Soto who were executors and beneficiaries. To this she replied Dr. Soto and herself, however, neither one was bound to fulfill those positions.
As to the beneficiaries, it was noted Bronson’s son, herself, Dr. Soto, Torey Bauer, Naomi Nelson, Travis Nickelson, Al Robertson, Kosciusko County Republican Party, Aaron Rovenstine and Rocky Goshert were named. She was also questioned as to the address given for Nickelson, which was the county jail. No other legal services were done by Rebecca Soto for Bronson.
During cross examination, Scott Lennox, defense counsel, questioned if she ever heard or was present when Bronson threatened her father. Her testimony was she overheard Bronson speaking in a threatening manner during phone conversations. But when asked if she ever heard her father say he was afraid of Bronson, she stated she did not know. She also testified she had never been compensated, nor asked to be compensated for preparing the will. “It is just a piece of paper playing with monopoly money,” she testified.
The prosecution also called Hickerson, who testified how he met Bronson and his experiences. During his testimony he stated the first time he met Bronson, Bronson showed him his strength and power by shoving him across the room. Once Bronson appeared at Christ Covenant Church, where Hickerson was a lay pastor, he began paying more attention to Bronson.
Hickerson relayed several occasions he communicated or met with Bronson. He testified he had sent Bronson an email expressing concern of the safety of his friend, Nate McLaurin, which was immediately followed by phone calls. His testimony was he was told it would be best to forget about it and turn away from it and not get involved, which he ignored.
He also related an instance taking Bronson to the hospital, waiting until his release and returning him to his apartment. He stated Bronson challenged him point blank he would have life if he served in servitude, or it was death if he didn’t. He also testified after being told that, he told Bronson to get out of his vehicle.
During questioning by Lennox, he was asked to expound on his testimony, adding after taking Bronson to the hospital he did have his children ready to leave in a moment’s notice. Additionally he stated he walked away from that encounter shaking and Bronson was agitated and angry. “When he’s not in control of people he was with he became angry and agitated,” Hickerson testified. He also testified he was told specifically what would happen to his family.
Like McLaurin and David Baker, Hickerson testified he never went to the police.