Democratic Arizona state Sen. Tony Navarrete, who was arrested on suspicion of engaging in sexual conduct with a minor, was ordered on Friday to be held in jail on a $50,000 bond.
The Phoenix Police Department said it received a report on Wednesday about the alleged conduct between Navarrete and a minor in 2019. The arrest came on Thursday after investigators interviewed a juvenile victim and witnesses, police said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
Navarrete, 35, made his first court appearance on Friday and was read charges including three class two felonies for sexual conduct with a minor, one class four felony for attempted sexual contact with a minor, and two class six felonies for sexual conduct with a minor, according to the Arizona Mirror.
A police report says Navarrete started to molest and have sexual contact with a 12- or 13-year-old male victim, who is now 16, over a period of several years, and he is accused of attempting to have sexual contact with the victim’s younger brother who is now 13.
Superior Court Commissioner Steve McCarthy presided over the hearing with Navarrete, who appeared virtually in his holding cell and did not enter a plea on the charges. Maricopa County Attorney’s Office prosecutor Jeanine Sorrentino requested a $50,000 bond and a mandatory 49 years in prison if he is convicted on all charges.
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Sorrentino, an experienced sex crimes prosecutor, said the “high prison sentence here makes him a flight risk.” But Roland Rillos, the attorney representing Navarrete, argued, “There’s no indication at all … that he’s any type of flight risk,” noting he complied with law enforcement and surrendered his passport.
Although Rillos pushed for a lower bond amount of $15,000, McCarthy went with a $50,000 secured bond.
The attorney for Navarrete argued her client had a modest income of a $24,000 annual legislative salary and a $58,000 salary for his work as a community liaison for a nonprofit organization, adding proceeds from his recently sold home would be needed to pay for his defense.
If Navarrete pays the bond and is released, he will be subject to electronic monitoring and is not permitted to have contact with his alleged victim or any other minor, including members of his family.
The state senator is expected to appear in court on Aug. 12 for a status conference and again on Aug. 16 for a preliminary hearing.
Already there is pressure among members of Navarrete’s own party for him to step down.
“Given the nature of the charges against Sen. Navarrete, it would be in best interests of his constituents for him to resign from the state senate. He is presumed innocent of the charges but the best interests of the district the represents must come first,” tweeted state Rep. Diego Rodriguez, a Phoenix Democrat who is running for attorney general.
“These are incredibly disturbing allegations. Senator Navarrete should resign immediately,” tweeted Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs earlier in the day.
Prior to the hearing Friday afternoon, Senate Democrats responded to reports of Navarrete’s arrest, releasing a statement calling for the allotment of “due process to take place through our judicial system.”
Our statement on the arrest of Senator Tony Navarrete. We encourage anyone who needs it to call the Arizona Sexual and Domestic Violence Helpline at 602-279-2980 or text: 520-720-3383. pic.twitter.com/JCRPM5MMBz
— Arizona Senate Democrats (@AZSenateDems) August 6, 2021
“We are closely monitoring the situation and are anxious for the facts of this ongoing investigation to be revealed. At this point we do not have any details surrounding this ongoing case and we will refrain from further comment,” state Democrats wrote in their release.
Republican state Sen. Kelly Townsend wrote in a tweet Friday morning she would perceive Navarrete as innocent unless proven guilty.
“However, if it’s true, then I don’t ever want to lay eyes on you again, @Navarrete,” Townsend added.
Navarrete was elected as a state representative for Arizona’s 30th Legislative District in 2016. Two years later, he was elected as the district’s state senator. He is also deputy director for Promise Arizona, a nonprofit group aimed to “train leaders to build confidence, promote Latino leadership, and encourage civic involvement in our communities,” according to its webpage.
The Democratic state senator revealed on Aug. 4 he tested positive for COVID-19 after having been vaccinated against the virus.
Representatives for Navarrete’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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The Washington Examiner contacted the PPD but did not immediately receive a response.
