A former Grace Seminary professor was convicted of three felony counts Tuesday night.

Dr. Mark Soto was convicted of two felony counts of corrupt business influence and one count of intimidation. He was found not guilty on two counts of intimidation and one count of corrupt business influence. The jury returned after almost seven hours of deliberation and a six-day trial.  

Special Judge Stephen Bowers set sentencing for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 28.

Soto was indicted in February 2016 with Kevin Bronson, a martial arts instructor, and former Kosciusko Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine.

The charges result from a failed movie project about Bronson’s life. Prosecutors say Soto and Bronson extorted money for the movie project.

Soto was convicted of intimidating Christ Covenant Church pastor Nate McLaurin for asking to speak with Bronson’s  superior, known as Sky Blue, in the Aryan Brotherhood. He was acquitted of intimidating Ohio attorney David Baker and bullying McLaurin into getting monthly payments from Tyler Silveus that were used for Bronson’s living expenses.

“I think justice means the same thing in every case and that is a search for the truth," Chief Deputy Prosecutor Tami Napier said after the verdict. "[Jurors] found witnesses they believed, other witnesses they didn't and some evidence they found more persuasive than others.”

“We appreciate the work of the Warsaw Police Department who has maintained a professional side to this investigation despite some very challenging circumstances," said Napier.

The intimidation of McLaurin came Jan. 2, 2013. McLaurin testified he was concerned about how money raised for the movie was being spent and had some doubts about Bronson’s claims. McLaurin said he asked Bronson to talk to Sky about the movie project. Bronson had said the Aryan Brotherhood, of which he was a purported member, wanted the movie made and would kill people if it didn’t happen.

Later, Soto called him and said, “You crossed the line,” and that bikers were coming from Fort Wayne to kill him and his family, McLaurin said.

Soto said he thought the threats from the Brotherhood, conveyed by Bronson, were against everyone involved in the movie deal.

McLaurin sat up and no one came. He said he was later told  the Brotherhood was impressed with him not calling the police and called it off.

“You saw the emotion in the witnesses. I think that really connected with people and the jury,” Deputy Prosecutor Matthew Sarber said at the press conference after the verdict.

Bronson testified that in 2008 he was contacted by movie producers about making a film about his conversion to Christianity. Bronson and Soto began plans to make the movie happen. They hired Baker to assist with the movie.

During closing arguments, attorneys painted two different pictures of Soto.  

Napier said Soto was a man who was in the game for the money. She said he never called the police and never left Bronson. Even after changing his number, he continued to accept calls from Bronson.

Defense Attorney Scott Lennox portrayed his client as a man of faith who had promised never to abandon Bronson. He was guided by his faith that no one is beyond redemption.

Prosecutors say that Bronson and Soto extorted money for a company named Young Dragon Enterprises. The company was set up to control the copyright of a movie or book deal about Bronson’s life. He said Bronson was a man who poisons everything he touches and Soto fell prey to his hands.

“Soto is a trusting, naive man who believed he could change a man,” Lennox said.

Lennox argued that Soto was like Baker and McLaurin and only acted out of fear.

Napier pointed to jail phone calls where Soto speaks of his love for Bronson and their close relationship as proof that Soto was not scared of Bronson.

“If you are not scared of Kevin Bronson, you are not scared of the Aryan Brotherhood,” Bronson said.

Napier said Soto was “the bridge to Bronson,” the person who used his education and social standing to give legitimacy to Bronson’s claims.

As Soto and Bronson began to raise funds for the movie deal, Soto met with McLaurin.

McLaurin testified he was given the impression the only way to free Bronson from the Aryan Brotherhood was to have the movie made in addition to  having a Christian end. The movie also had to show “the horrific evil” of the gang.

McLaurin agreed to help and contacted his friend, Silveus, who began funding a large portion of the project and Bronson’s living expenses.  

In order to shield investors from Bronson, McLaurin helped start Young Dragon Enterprises with David Baker, and initially had Soto, McLaurin and Bronson as stakeholders.

McLaurin was the only one of the three initial stakeholders who was not charged. Lt. Paul Heaton, who investigated the case, attends the church where McLaurin is pastor.

“Chief (Scott) Whitaker sat in on every interview I did where there was a an alleged conflict of interest,” Heaton said in an interview.

Silveus testified that he never met Soto and gave the money directly to McLaurin, who would then deposit the money in the an account. Soto then would move the money to a different account which Bronson and Soto had access to. Silveus testified he gave over $140,000 to help with the movie and pay Bronson’s living expenses.

McLaurin testified he was just given a number from Soto and Bronson and he would obtain that money from Silveus. The money was used to retain attorneys, trips to Hollywood for Baker and Bronson to meet with producers, plus a monthly stipend for living expenses for Bronson of around $2,800. Bronson testified he split the money with Soto. Soto denied it.

Soto did take $5,000 for himself. On the check in the memo section it said “cabinets.”?Silveus testified he understood that to be money so Soto could do redo his kitchen. Soto testified he asked for an reimbursement for all the money he spent on Bronson while he was in jail.  

Napier challenged Soto on why he didn’t give the check back to McLaurin and pointed to the fact that memo part of the check said cabinets instead of reimbursement.

Soto also said he took reimbursement after he paid for the  Hollywood trips. Soto said he put $60,000 of his own money into the business and lost more than he took out.

“You did nothing to ensure the investors’ money was protected,” Napier asked Soto.

“That’s not true,” Soto said.

Napier asked why he didn’t ever stop investors from giving and why he didn’t do anything to dissuade people’s fears about the Brotherhood.

“Every time someone asked, Mark confirmed Bronson was telling the truth,” Napier said.

“I confirmed that’s what Bronson told me,” Soto said.

Napier argued that Soto was deep in the project, sometimes even putting Bronson’s needs ahead of his own family.