Rovenstine Update: WPD Chief Whitaker Says It’s Time For Healing
May 24, 2017 at 5:50 p.m.
By Michael [email protected]
Rovenstine was sentenced Tuesday to one year of probation and 250 hours of community service on a single count of felony intimidation. He can’t fulfil his hours with his church, any service club he is a member of or with the KCSD.
“This is the beginning of the healing process,” Warsaw Police Department Chief Scott Whitaker said in a press conference after the sentencing.
Whitaker says he hopes to repair the damage that was created between the KCSD and the WPD.
The intimidation charge results from a phone call on Aug. 14, 2015, between Rovenstine and WPD detective Paul Heaton
During the call, Rovenstine said that it was going to get ugly and he has investigators, too. Prosecutors allege that after the call, Rovenstine supervised a department investigation into Heaton’s conduct as drug investigator.
“I was so upset that he had gone the next level because I did my job,” Heaton said with tears in his eyes at the hearing Monday.
During the press conference after the hearing, Special Prosecutor Nelson Chipman called it a case of public corruption.
KCSD refused to corporate with the Indiana State Police in an investigation with a known criminal, Chipman said. He pointed to the fact a Rovenstine has been sheriff for 27 of the last 41 years as reasons for the corruption.
“There is a reason that the founders of this state put term limits in the state constitution,” Chipman said.
Rovenstine originally was charged with 10 felony counts in the case. However, nine counts were dismissed as a part of a plea agreement.
While Rovenstine admits he made those comments during the phone call, he denies beginning a retaliatory investigation.
Former KCSD detective J.D. Ayers took the stand and said Rovenstine never ordered or directed him to investigate Heaton.
“I was just acting on the tips I received,” Ayers said.
Ayers pointed out that they did not assign a case number in order to avoid jumping to conclusions.
Deputy Special Prosecutor Matthew Sarber challenged Ayers, asking about text messages between him and detective Joshua Spangle asking if Rovenstine would object to them interviewing an inmate about Heaton. Sarber argued this proved the investigation was under Rovenstines’ direction.
“I was investigating a police officer, of course, I was going to tell my boss about it,” Ayers said.
Heaton initiated the phone call with Rovenstine after he was banned from the jail after asking for calls to be recorded between Kevin Bronson, an former marital arts instructor with a long criminal record, and David Baker, an attorney, and Mark Soto, a former Grace College professor.
Heaton was investigating Soto and Bronson for alleged illegal activity raising money for a movie and book about Bronson’s life.
Jennifer Lukemeyer,?attorney for Rovenstine, questioned Heaton’s request for calls. She argued that since Baker was an attorney and Soto was clergy, they had special privileges which was why Rovenstine wasn’t recording the calls.
Heaton argued it was different since Baker is an alleged victim in the corruption case against Bronson, and Soto is charged as Bronson’s co-conspirator.
Heaton testified that at the end of the phone call, Rovenstine apologized and said that he would get Heaton readmitted into the jail.
Heaton said he received a an unsigned apology letter from Rovenstine on Sunday. Heaton said he found the letter insincere because it was unsigned and didn’t address what he feels happened after.
“It didn’t cover the whole scope of what happened,” Heaton said.
The letter only addressed the phone call.
Rovenstine thanked his supporters for the prayers on his behalf and said he was sorry for the mess.
“I’ve always tried to live my life by the Golden Rule and I’m sorry I failed,” he said.
Special Judge Stephen Bowers said he went back on the sentencing of Rovenstine. It was unusual to see the felony intimidation charged in a situation like this in this way. It is usually used with a criminal being arrested who threatened a law enforcement officer.
“You have abused your power, you have tarnished your legacy and the legacy for your father before you,” Bowers said.
Bowers said he did not think incarcerating Rovenstine in the Kosciusko County Jail would be beneficial for anyone.
Along with probation and community service, Bowers ordered Rovenstine to participate in the victim/offender rehabilitation program in Elkhart County. The program is billed as a chance for both sides to heal, as both the victim and the offender sit face to face and “work though it.”
“I don’t believe Heaton should continue to feel punished, for coming forward,” Bowers says.
Since Bowers sentenced Rovenstine as a felon, Rovenstine will lose his right to a hold a firearm and there are certain jobs he will never be to hold such as law enforcement.
Rovenstine’s felony conviction vacated the sheriff’s department. A caucus to replace him is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 21.
Rovenstine will be able to keep his pension, according to Jean Northenor, who sits on the merit board. The merit board handles the pensions for law enforcement.
Kosciusko County Chief Deputy William “Rocky” Goshert has assumed all duties as the county sheriff, according to a press release from KCSD.
Goshert, a 20-year retired trooper with the Indiana State Police, and previously elected two-term sheriff of Kosciusko County, has over 37 years of law enforcement experience.
Bronson and Soto are scheduled to face a joint jury trial on their charges in October. Both men face multiple felonies on the allegations of racketering and intimidation.
Deputy Prosecutor Tami Napier says she’s hopeful a plea deal can be reached.
“If not, we’re ready to try it,” she said.
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Rovenstine was sentenced Tuesday to one year of probation and 250 hours of community service on a single count of felony intimidation. He can’t fulfil his hours with his church, any service club he is a member of or with the KCSD.
“This is the beginning of the healing process,” Warsaw Police Department Chief Scott Whitaker said in a press conference after the sentencing.
Whitaker says he hopes to repair the damage that was created between the KCSD and the WPD.
The intimidation charge results from a phone call on Aug. 14, 2015, between Rovenstine and WPD detective Paul Heaton
During the call, Rovenstine said that it was going to get ugly and he has investigators, too. Prosecutors allege that after the call, Rovenstine supervised a department investigation into Heaton’s conduct as drug investigator.
“I was so upset that he had gone the next level because I did my job,” Heaton said with tears in his eyes at the hearing Monday.
During the press conference after the hearing, Special Prosecutor Nelson Chipman called it a case of public corruption.
KCSD refused to corporate with the Indiana State Police in an investigation with a known criminal, Chipman said. He pointed to the fact a Rovenstine has been sheriff for 27 of the last 41 years as reasons for the corruption.
“There is a reason that the founders of this state put term limits in the state constitution,” Chipman said.
Rovenstine originally was charged with 10 felony counts in the case. However, nine counts were dismissed as a part of a plea agreement.
While Rovenstine admits he made those comments during the phone call, he denies beginning a retaliatory investigation.
Former KCSD detective J.D. Ayers took the stand and said Rovenstine never ordered or directed him to investigate Heaton.
“I was just acting on the tips I received,” Ayers said.
Ayers pointed out that they did not assign a case number in order to avoid jumping to conclusions.
Deputy Special Prosecutor Matthew Sarber challenged Ayers, asking about text messages between him and detective Joshua Spangle asking if Rovenstine would object to them interviewing an inmate about Heaton. Sarber argued this proved the investigation was under Rovenstines’ direction.
“I was investigating a police officer, of course, I was going to tell my boss about it,” Ayers said.
Heaton initiated the phone call with Rovenstine after he was banned from the jail after asking for calls to be recorded between Kevin Bronson, an former marital arts instructor with a long criminal record, and David Baker, an attorney, and Mark Soto, a former Grace College professor.
Heaton was investigating Soto and Bronson for alleged illegal activity raising money for a movie and book about Bronson’s life.
Jennifer Lukemeyer,?attorney for Rovenstine, questioned Heaton’s request for calls. She argued that since Baker was an attorney and Soto was clergy, they had special privileges which was why Rovenstine wasn’t recording the calls.
Heaton argued it was different since Baker is an alleged victim in the corruption case against Bronson, and Soto is charged as Bronson’s co-conspirator.
Heaton testified that at the end of the phone call, Rovenstine apologized and said that he would get Heaton readmitted into the jail.
Heaton said he received a an unsigned apology letter from Rovenstine on Sunday. Heaton said he found the letter insincere because it was unsigned and didn’t address what he feels happened after.
“It didn’t cover the whole scope of what happened,” Heaton said.
The letter only addressed the phone call.
Rovenstine thanked his supporters for the prayers on his behalf and said he was sorry for the mess.
“I’ve always tried to live my life by the Golden Rule and I’m sorry I failed,” he said.
Special Judge Stephen Bowers said he went back on the sentencing of Rovenstine. It was unusual to see the felony intimidation charged in a situation like this in this way. It is usually used with a criminal being arrested who threatened a law enforcement officer.
“You have abused your power, you have tarnished your legacy and the legacy for your father before you,” Bowers said.
Bowers said he did not think incarcerating Rovenstine in the Kosciusko County Jail would be beneficial for anyone.
Along with probation and community service, Bowers ordered Rovenstine to participate in the victim/offender rehabilitation program in Elkhart County. The program is billed as a chance for both sides to heal, as both the victim and the offender sit face to face and “work though it.”
“I don’t believe Heaton should continue to feel punished, for coming forward,” Bowers says.
Since Bowers sentenced Rovenstine as a felon, Rovenstine will lose his right to a hold a firearm and there are certain jobs he will never be to hold such as law enforcement.
Rovenstine’s felony conviction vacated the sheriff’s department. A caucus to replace him is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 21.
Rovenstine will be able to keep his pension, according to Jean Northenor, who sits on the merit board. The merit board handles the pensions for law enforcement.
Kosciusko County Chief Deputy William “Rocky” Goshert has assumed all duties as the county sheriff, according to a press release from KCSD.
Goshert, a 20-year retired trooper with the Indiana State Police, and previously elected two-term sheriff of Kosciusko County, has over 37 years of law enforcement experience.
Bronson and Soto are scheduled to face a joint jury trial on their charges in October. Both men face multiple felonies on the allegations of racketering and intimidation.
Deputy Prosecutor Tami Napier says she’s hopeful a plea deal can be reached.
“If not, we’re ready to try it,” she said.
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