While Warsaw Police Detective Paul Heaton was satisfied with the sentence of former Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine, the scars of the two-year ordeal still remain.
The felony charge to which Rovenstine pleaded guilty, intimidation of a law enforcement officer, was the direct result of a conversation between Rovenstine and Detective Heaton. In Heaton’s testimony given during Rovenstine’s sentencing hearing in Kosciuscko Circuit Court Tuesday morning he said that he was doing due diligence on an investigation on inmate Kevin Bronson and another defendant, Mark Soto. Information during the proceedings revealed that Heaton’s investigation also included the fact that Rovenstine was allowing Bronson special privileges such as unrecorded phone calls and other actions not commonly awarded to other inmates. When that came to the former sheriff’s attention, Rovenstine blocked Heaton’s access to the jail.
During the sentencing hearing, Rovenstine admitted to intimidating Heaton by saying that Heaton’s investigation would “…start World War III and it would get ugly”, and “…I have my own investigators too.”
That phone conversation sparked an investigation into Heaton’s conduct as a police officer and how he was conducting his investigation.
According to Heaton, that investigation by the sheriff’s department affected his networking with other officers as his credibility was raised. He also testified that he feared for the safety of his family as the questions continued. No charges were filed against Heaton.
Rovenstine was sentenced to serve one year of reporting probation and 250 hours of community service. As part of the terms of his plea agreement, he cannot possess a firearm. Rovenstine will need to complete a Victim Offender Reconciliation program where he and Detective Heaton will come face-to-face to resolve any issues.
Detective Heaton said that even though he was presented with an unsigned apology letter provided by Rovenstine, the attempt to mend fences may take a while.
“The rebuilding will take time,” said Heaton. “I hope it happens. I’m going to be shocked if it doesn’t happen immediately. It’s going to take some time.”
While the wounds heal between the Warsaw Police Department and the Kosciuscko County Sheriff’s Department, Heaton will continue in his role as detective.
“I do feel that I can continue to do my job and I will. I’m not going to shy on that at all. Ultimately, I’m going to take care of my family.”
