*** MEDIA ADVISORY *** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FORMER BONDSMAN WON’T BE BONDING OUT SOON MEDIA CONTACT: Curtis T. Hill, Jr.  296-1888 An Elkhart Superior Court No. 1 jury deliberated just under three hours August 24, 2010, following the five day trial of former Elkhart County bail bondsman Bart Dewald, age 51, Goshen, Indiana.  Dewald had been charged with six counts, including two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Battery, both Class B felonies; one count of Criminal Confinement by Use of a Vehicle, a Class C felony; one count of Intimidation by Drawing or Using a Deadly Weapon, a Class C felony; one count of Pointing a Firearm; a Class D felony, and one count of Criminal Recklessness Using a Vehicle, a Class A misdemeanor.The most serious offenses relate to allegations that the former bondsman paid $1,000.00 as a down payment to a world class karate champion to beat and severely injure Elkhart County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Peter Britton and fellow bondsman Randy Abel. Britton had successfully prosecuted Dewald in a Criminal Confinement case wherein Dewald was incarcerated and as a result of this felony conviction lost his license as a bondsman through the State of Indiana. In addition to hiring a hit on Abel, Dewald was also charged in connection with an incident along U.S. 33 between Goshen and Elkhart where Dewald repeatedly attempted to run Abel’s vehicle off the road, waved a firearm at Abel while both were driving, and further confined Abel just north of the intersection of Prairie and Main Streets in Elkhart.During the course of the trial, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Vicki Becker and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Mark Altenhof presented the jury with evidence by way of an audio tape from the March 6, 2008, meeting between Dewald and his hired “hitman” wherein Dewald described exactly what he wanted done to bondsman Randy Abel. “I want his teeth knocked out… I want him to look like something happened, alright? That’s what I want. I want him to have an extended hospital stay. I want to be able to walk up to the hospital, and be able to look in, smile, and spit on him. And after he’s up and walking around again, at your leisure, do it again”. Dewald was further heard to say on the recording that he wanted “the same thing” done to Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Peter Britton. The jury then heard further audio evidence from the March 10, 2008, meeting between Dewald and his hired “hitman” where Dewald again made it clear what he wanted done on his behalf. Regarding Abel, Dewald said “I just want him f***** up. You know what I was thinking, you could take his briefcase and his cell phone and make it look like a robbery. I just want him hospitalized and I want his face to look like a mess”. Dewald again confirmed during his March 10, 2008, meeting that he wanted the same thing done to Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Peter Britton and later went on to say, as evidenced by the audio recording, “I’ll probably be the one going to jail for it”. An obvious moment of clairvoyance for Mr. Dewald.The two Class B felonies are punishable by up to twenty years in the Indiana Department of Correction for each while each of the Class C felonies is punishable by up to eight years in prison. The Class A misdemeanor is punishable by one year in prison.Sentencing is currently scheduled for September 16, 2010, in the Elkhart Superior Court No. 1.# # #