Kevin Bronson

ELKHART — A plea agreement entered by Kevin Bronson was conditionally accepted by Special Judge Stephen R. Bowers, Elkhart Superior Court 2, Friday, July 14. Bronson was indicted by a Kosciusko County Grand Jury on three counts of corrupt business influence and seven counts of intimidation.

Bronson pleaded guilty to one count of corrupt business influence a class C felony. All other charges will be dropped. He also waived his 30-day sentencing. Bowers set sentencing for 2:30 p.m. Sept. 29. Bowers also ordered the Elkhart County Community Corrections to evaluate Bronson for placement and to send a copy of the evaluation to the court at least 72 hours prior to sentencing. A pre-sentence investigation report was also ordered.

The terms of the plea agreement calls for seven years incarceration with credit for the time served in the Kosciusko County Jail, Noble County Jail, Marshall County Jail and Elkhart County Correctional Facility. Any time remaining will be served at the Elkhart County Community Corrections. The agreement also states he agrees to testify truthfully if called upon for the state in the case against Mark Soto and that the sentence will occur at the conclusion of Soto’s trial.

Both Bronson and Soto were scheduled for a nine-day jury trial to begin Aug. 1 in Kosciusko County. The jury trial is still scheduled for Soto.

Bronson, along with C. Aaron Rovenstine and Soto were indicted by a Kosciusko County Grand Jury in February 2016.

Rovenstine, who was originally charged with three counts of bribery, intimidation and five counts of official misconduct. He pleaded guilty in June to the intimidation charge and was sentenced to one year probation.

Soto is facing charge of three counts of corrupt business influence and three counts of intimidation.