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 (kahs-ee-AHS’-koh) County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine’s case.

WANE-TV reports (https://bit.ly/2mEQF54 ) 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.

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Information from: WANE-TV, https://www.wane.com/