ELKHART COUNTY  — Kevin Bronson, Warsaw, was given a seven-year suspended sentence on Sept. 29, for corrupt business influence following a plea agreement. This suspended sentence is to be served with the Elkhart County Community Corrections. Special Judge Stephen Bowers noted, at sentencing, Bronson had been accepted by ECCC and ordered he be placed in the appropriate program through that agency.

Bronson was indicted by a Kosciusko County Grand Jury, along with C. Aaron Rovenstine and Dr. Mark Soto.

During Bronson’s sentencing work release was mentioned. However, Bronson, who has been incarcerated since Dec. 29, 2015, does not have job. Nor, according to him, have a place to reside as he claims he has lost everything. “Who is going to hire me?” he asked the judge.

What does that mean? What programs are available to him?

Lauren Duesler, executive director of Elkhart County Community Corrections, provided information on qualifications for work release and home detention/electronic monitoring through their program.

Duesler stated, “Through collaborative effort with probation and the courts, an offender is assessed for our program. It is determined at that time if they are eligible. They must be able to pay their weekly fees and if they are able to work, must be employed within 30 days. They are responsible for their own transportation, which includes public transportation as well.” The work release participant is housed in the Elkhart County Corrections Facility. There is no visitation hours and pick-up and drop-off hours are specific times.

There is a list of approved property the participant is allowed including the type and number of clothing items. One example is seven pair of pants, but these may not have extra snaps, zippers or pockets. Even shirts are restricted to 10 with no pornographic images, swearing too revealing or drug/alcohol related. A participant must also provide his own bedding. Sleeping bags, comforters or quilts are not allowed.

The fee for work release is $12 per day or $84 per week. A brochure on the programs note supervision fees begin accruing the first day an individual is put on the program. If the individual is unemployed, the fees go on an account and paid-off after the person starts working at the rates of: $25 per week for gross income less than $400 per week or $50 per week for gross income more than $400 per week. Other fees, such as child support, fines and costs, may be collected at the same time as supervision if the court orders ECCC to collect.

Duesler noted that if a participant has not found a job within 30 days, then the individual will appear before the court, as it is a violation of the program.

If he is eligible for electronic monitoring/home detention. Bronson would not be housed in the county jail. This would require Bronson to get a place to live. Fees for this program range from $10 per day or $70 per week to $18 per day for active GPS with alcohol monitoring. Brochure information notes a basic analog phone line must be installed at the residence and no special features on that phone are allowed. These include call waiting, voicemail, call forwarding or an answering machine.

Participation in Kosciusko County’s Work Release Program is very similar to that of Elkhart County. Officials at the local work release noted sometimes they will help an individual find a job and transportation.

It is still unknown, which program Bronson will be allowed to participate in and now much jail time credit he will be given. That time is still being calculated.