New judge appointed to hear Indiana sheriff’s bribery case
WARSAW, Ind. (AP) – A northern Indiana sheriff facing bribery and official misconduct charges will have a new judge overseeing his trial.
Court records show Elkhart Superior Court Judge Stephen Bowers has been appointed to hear Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine’s case.
WANE-TV reports Bowers was appointed after fellow Elkhart Superior Court Judge Evan Roberts relinquished his duties as a special judge due to illness.
Rovenstine was indicted last year on 10 felony counts alleging that he accepted $40,000 to allow special privileges for a jail inmate and a visitor, including allowing unrecorded phone calls meant to hinder punishment of the inmate.
The Republican sheriff also is accused of intimidating a Warsaw police detective who was suspicions of Rovenstine’s activities.
Rovenstine’s trial is scheduled to begin April 3.