A disgraced Democratic politician learned his fate on Friday following his February conviction by a jury of sexual conduct with a minor.
Former Arizona state Sen. Otoniel “Tony” Navarrete (D-Phoenix) received one year in prison. Navarrete faced six felony counts involving allegations of sexual conduct with two teenagers, potentially adding up to a minimum of 49 years in prison if convicted.
The Arizona Republic has more:
The former lawmaker, dressed in a suit, was taken into custody by a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deputy after the proceeding.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Kristin Culbertson, before ordering the sentence, offered Navarrete the chance to get 60 days in jail and 10 years of supervised probation. She granted a brief recess to allow the former lawmaker and his attorney to consider her offer or receive a different sentence.
Navarrete, a Democrat, decided to reject the offer of probation, leading Culbertson to order the one-year sentence.
Sentencing guidelines barred Culbertson from giving him more time in prison. But Navarrete, through his attorney, said he would not comply with probation terms that required him to participate in counseling, because such counseling demands that he admit to his guilt, which he will not do. The judge did not order internet restrictions for Navarrete, which she said weren’t appropriate in this case.
Navarrete was arrested by Phoenix police in August 2021 after a tip-off. The officers interviewed his victims. One boy called Navarrete while being recorded by the police.
According to court documents, Navarrete acknowledged touching the victim’s genitals and performing oral sex over a period of years. The victim was 16 at the time of Navarrete’s arrest.
“Of course, I regret any bad actions that I did, absolutely wishing everything could be different. I’m sorry, mijo,” Navarrete, then 35, told the victim, unaware officers were listening in.
Before his initial court appearance, Navarrete’s Democratic colleagues in the Arizona State Capitol demanded his resignation.
The trial, which involved six felony counts and two victims, ended in a mistrial thanks to a deadlocked jury.
Navarrete maintains his innocence despite the incriminating call. Prior to his arrest, he was considered a rising star in the Arizona Democratic Party.
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Patrick Houck is an avid political enthusiast based out of the Washington, D.C., metro area. His expertise is in campaigns and the use of targeted messaging to persuade voters. When not combing through the latest news, you can find him enjoying the company of family and friends or pursuing his love of photography.
