Dr. Mark Soto

WARSAW — Jurors and spectators spent close to 4 1/2 hours Friday afternoon listening to approximately 20 recorded phone conversations between Kevin Bronson and Mark Soto, in the third day of testimony in Soto’s trial. The defense will begin its cross examination of Bronson on Monday, Aug. 7.

Just prior to the playing of the recordings Bronson was asked to testify about the contents of his last will, created in 2015. His testimony focused on the major changes and why those changes. “I’d much rather have a heart attack than go through this,” Bronson stated. Those changes, according to Bronson, were made after hearing what could be the gain from the movie/book deal. The 2011 will focused on what he believed he would inherit from his father’s estate. He stated Aaron Rovenstine, Soto and David Baker were in the room when, via a phone call, they were told a $40 million gain was anticipated. He said Rovenstine threw up his hands and said ‘that’s all I need to hear,’ and walked out.

He also testified about the last legal agreement for Young Dragon Enterprises which was made to handle his valuable assets in the case of his death.

The recordings heard ranged from Jan. 1 through August 2015, while he was incarcerated in Kosciusko and Marshall County jails. The recordings, on many occasions, gave the impression Bronson was demanding Soto contact individuals immediately and get results to his requests and upset that Soto hadn’t responded to his call hours earlier. Numerous times it sounded as if Bronson was yelling at Soto in the phone conversations. Several times there were recordings where it sounded as if Soto was arguing with Bronson.

The recordings covered a variety of conversations but mostly with Bronson’s demands to have people contacted to get results for what he was being told by “Heaven,” “Sky” and “God” through an implant in his ear. Many times Soto could be heard giving simple answers – as if to appease Bronson and to get him off the phone.

During one conversation Bronson stated “God f… you out of money, I’m ordering things go to stage 2,” and gave Soto codes to text to himself. Bronson was heard saying “I’m not going to continue to allow him to do this. They are tied to your phone. Hampton (the prosecuting attorney) is aware of what is going on, get a hold of Dan…”

There were also recordings where it appeared Soto was disgusted with Bronson’s demands.

In the final recordings Bronson is heard asking Soto not to abandon him as he was the only one he had left in his life. “Just don’t abandon me,” was one request made by Bronson. Some of the calls were made after Warsaw Police had seized Soto’s computers and other electronics. Bronson was heard telling Soto several times “You’ve done nothing illegal,” even stating Soto had not intimidated anyone nor done any wrong business dealings.

Occasionally throughout the playing of the recordings, Tami Napier, special prosecutor, would ask Bronson to clarify topics and persons in the recordings.