C. Aaron Rovenstine

WARSAW — Many are in shock over the indictment of Kosciusko County Sheriff C. Aaron Rovenstine, so much so it is uncertain the process that will take place.

“No comment” has been the statement given by public information officials with the sheriff’s department and Grace College. Amanda Banks, public relations with Grace College, stated, “The details surrounding this arrest are personal and not professional and has nothing to do with Grace College. Our policy is not to comment on personal matters.” She did verify that Mark H. Soto is currently employed by the college.

Kosciusko County Commissioner Ron Truex is in disbelief and “totally surprised.” He has known Rovenstine for a number of years and does not believe  the charges.

It is unknown at this time if Rovenstine will continue as sheriff until the legal process is complete or if he will step down. The prosecutor’s office stated, “The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office advises that the defendant’s charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

Rovenstine was booked in the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department on a $10,000 bond.

Rovenstine has been in law enforcement for 30 years, 24 with the sheriff’s department and 11 as sheriff. He was re-elected to an additional four-year term in 2014. Rovenstine is a lifetime Kosciusko County resident, a 1978 graduate of Warsaw Community High School. In 2005 he was appointed by Gov. Mitch Daniels to serve on the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board, has been active in the community and the Republican Party.

He is a former board member of the United Way of Kosciusko County, served on the Kosciusko Community Foundation Vision Council and spent 12 years on the MLK Day Committee. Rovenstine is currently on the Atwood Community Building Board and is involved with the Kosciusko County Basketball Hall of Fame.

Rovenstine has served for over 20 years as a precinct committeeman for Harrison Township and served two terms as Republican county chairman. He is also a member of the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club.

Incarcerated On Cocaine Charges

Kevin Bronson

Kevin L. Bronson has an extensive criminal history according to a search on DoxPop.

An open court case shows on Dec. 29, 2014, he was charged with dealing in a narcotic drug, possession of cocaine, criminal gang activity and being a habitual offender. The chronological case summery of this case shows he was arrested and held on a $25,000 surety bond. His bond was increased to $30,000 surety on April 20, 2015, and a jury trial set for May 12. However, the trial was continued with dates of Aug. 25, 2015, and Oct. 20, 2015, set as potential trial dates. The Aug. 25 date was vacated on Aug. 4. The Oct. 20 date was vacated on Sept. 23.

Bronson was moved to the Marshall County Jail, for the purpose of safekeeping during the “pendency of this action” on Aug. 10, 2015.

He entered into a plea agreement, which was filed with the courts on Dec. 14, 2015. A hearing on the plea agreement and sentencing is set for 8:30 a.m. March 8, 2016.

Soto

According to faculty information on Grace College’s website, Mark H. Soto, has been a professor of theological studies since 2002 and has played a large role in developing online learning and instructional design at Grace, having served as director of distance education and adult learning from 2006 to 2010. He has taught 29 different courses in doctrine, apologetics, biblical history and hermeneutics during his 21-year tenure at Grace College and Theological Seminary and is known by students on campus for his fiery dedication to the truth. He also served in the United States Army Intelligence and Security Command as a platoon sergeant and cryptanalytic supervisor and has experience as a trained police chaplain. He has pastored and served as a leader in the church for over 25 years.

Officials at Grace College stated at 1:15 p.m. today that Soto has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Soto filed a notice of a tort claim against the Warsaw Police Department and Political Subdivision Risk Management Commission, Indianapolis, in September, 2015. He was seeking damages of $2 million each, an aggregate of $4 million and the return of all his personal and professional property.

Related: Professor Seeks Millions For ‘Vindictive’ WPD Actions