Arizona state Rep. Tony Navarrete is having a tough week.
Not only did he contract coronavirus amid the surge of the delta variant — now he’s facing a much more serious threat.
According to reports he was taken into custody by police on Thursday.
And he’s facing multiple counts for allegedly having contact with a sexual minor.
The Phoenix Police Department released an advisory that did not name Navarette, but detailed what led to the arrest.
“On August 4th, 2021, The Phoenix Police Department received a report of sexual conduct with a minor that occurred in 2019.”
“Detectives interviewed a juvenile victim and witnesses, and on August 5th, developed probable cause to arrest the suspect. The suspect was arrested and is currently in the process of being booked into jail for multiple counts of Sexual Conduct with a minor, among other charges. The suspect’s name and booking number will be provided when the booking process is complete.”
The advisory also notes that the victim was a “juvenile male.”
Local Arizona reporter Julia Shumway tweeted more damning evidence, that police arrested the senator on “suspicion of molestation.”
UPDATE: Phoenix PD comms director told me state Sen. Tony Navarrete, D-Phoenix, was arrested on suspicion of molestation.
We'll have more details once he's fully booked and charged.https://t.co/PbytoxO2T0
— Julia Shumway (@JMShumway) August 6, 2021
Navarrete’s colleagues in the Arizona Senate released a statement amid the stunning arrest.
“We are aware one of our members has been arrested and are awaiting further details and for law enforcement to do its job. We will not have further comment at this time,” the statement said.
The senator had announced his new battle after testing positive for COVID-19, although he wrote on Facebook that the “diagnosis is not a death sentence.”
But as of now, it seems he may be facing a different kind of sentencing by way of the judge and gavel.
The Horn editorial team