A defendant in a case that also involves Kosciusko County?Sheriff?Aaron Rovenstine wants his jury to come from Kosciusko County. Mark Soto, a former professor at Grace College, was indicted Feb. 29 along with Rovenstine and Kevin L. Bronson, a former owner of a martial arts studio. Soto’s jury trial on three counts of corrupt business influence, class C felonies, and three counts of intimidation,?class D felonies, is set to begin in?Elkhart County on Dec. 15. In court documents filed in May, Soto said he doesn't object to the location but wanted to be tried by jurors from his home county. Special Judge Evan S. Roberts will hear arguments on this issue in Elkhart Superior Court I at 2 p.m. Sept. 23. The charges stem from Soto’s alleged involvement with investing in what Bronson claimed would be a documentary about his life of crime and his conversion to Christianity. Bronson became an active member of Christ’s Covenant Church where the pastor and some church members became deeply invested in the movie. The movie was never made. On Dec. 30, 2014, Bronson was arrested for possession of cocaine with intent to deal and criminal gang activity. Rovenstine is accused of allowing Soto to meet with Bronson in the county jail unmonitored. Rovenstine’s separate corruption and bribery trial is currently scheduled for February. The probable cause affidavit alleges that Soto and Bronson threatened David Baker to provide extensive legal services and prepare documents aimed at securing a movie contract and/or book, without payment. The affidavit also alleges that?Soto and Bronson threatened Nate McLaurin, with the intent to secure payments in the amount of $84.012.50. A class C felony carries a penalty of two to eight years in prison and a class D felony carries a penalty of six months to three years in prison on each count. Each count can carry a fine up to $10,000.
