Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine will get a jury of Kosciusko County residents, as decided by a judge Wednesday.
On Nov. 4, Special Judge Evan Roberts held a test jury in the court to determine whether an impartial jury could be found within the county. Special Prosecutor Nelson Chipman asked Roberts to consider calling a jury from outside the county to ensure a fair trial.
The test jury was held in response to Chipman asking the judge to reconsider an earlier denial for a change of venue.
Chipman and Rovenstine’s attorney, James Voyles, asked the test jurors about their familiarity with Rovenstine and the case.
On Wednesday, Roberts denied Chipman’s motion, confirming his earlier ruling.
“After a thorough consideration of the test jurors’ responses and arguments of counsel, the court is convinced a fair and impartial jury composed of Kosciusko County citizens can be found,” Roberts said in the ruling.
A jury trial for Rovenstine is expected to begin in February on 10 felony counts, including bribery, intimidation and official misconduct.
Rovenstine was indicted February 2016, along with Kevin Bronson and Mark Soto. Soto and Bronson will face charges in a joint trial in March.
Rovenstine is accused of agreeing to take $40,000 to allow Bronson and Soto to meet unsupervised while Bronson was incarcerated.
Rovenstine’s attorneys declined to comment.
(Story By: Michael Anderson, Times Union)
