A court sentenced a former Democratic Arizona State legislator who was found guilty of sexually abusing a child. In February, he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage boy he was taking care of at the time.
Sen. Otoniel Navarrete was sentenced on Friday to just one year in prison for his crime.
A former state legislator found guilty of a single charge of sexual misconduct with a child was sentenced on Friday to one year of prison, which is a vast improvement from the 49 years he originally faced.
Former Arizona Senator Otoniel Navarrete, also known as Tony Navarrete, could be released sooner if he behaves well.
In February, a jury found Navarrete guilty of sexual conduct with an underage minor. This is a Class 6 felony. Phoenix Democrat was acquitted on one count of child abuse and another sexual charge.
According to The Arizona Republic, Navarrete refused a deal that would have required him to admit his guilt. In statements made after the indictment, he maintained his innocence.
In 2021 he was arrested, during his third term in the legislature. Navarrete was facing 49 years of prison for crimes committed against multiple minors. However, a mistrial in November 2023 wiped out most of these charges.
The victim was aged between 13 and 15 years old when he was sexually molested. He told the court that he continued to live with the legislator even after he had been sexually assaulted because he lived in a “dysfunctional home”.
The former legislator has maintained his innocence. Phoenix’s three-term lawmaker was a rising star of the Democratic Party until his arrest in August 2021 by Phoenix police.
Michael Minicozzi, the prosecutor, said Navarrete was entitled to “life” behind bars before Culbertson handed down his sentence. He requested the maximum sentence of one year and said that Navarrete had let down his family as well as the community.
Navarrete “went to work literally to do people’s business” then went home to molester a child, said the prosecutor.
Minicozzi apologized for saying, “I am sorry that there can’t be justice today in this case.”
The victim was able to listen in via virtual conferencing during the sentencing. Many of the legislator’s family and friends vouched for his character and asked the judge for a light sentence.
A part of the trial of the former legislator centered around recordings of phone conversations with the victim.
The recorded call shows that the older alleged victim asked Navarrete about touching his penis, but she didn’t specify if it happened more than once or if oral sex was involved.
Navarrete told the person he was calling, “Of course, I regret all bad actions that I have done, mojo.” Navarrete continued to say, “I wish that everything could be different… I’m sorry mojo.” Navarrete said that he regretted “it” and had sexual experiences since he was a child. Navarrete stated, “I have never hurt anyone like that before.”
Navarrete was re-elected as a state representative in 2016. Two years later, he was elected to the State Senate. He resigned after his arrest and allegations were made, even though he maintained he was innocent.
