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Arizona state Sen. Tony Navarrete resigns amid child sex abuse allegations

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PHOENIX — Arizona state Sen. Tony Navarrete, accused of sexually abusing a boy and attempting to abuse another, resigned from his seat Tuesday, effective immediately.

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According to Senate President Karen Fann, Navarrete sent his resignation in a brief letter, The Arizona Republic reported.

The resignation comes five days after Navarrete, 35, of Phoenix, was arrested on seven felony charges related to child sex abuse, the newspaper reported.

“I’m very glad he decided to do the right thing so he can figure out his next steps,” Fann told reporters.

Navarrette, a Democrat who has represented District 30 as a state senator since 2019, was arrested Thursday by Phoenix after police received a report about an incident that occurred in 2019. He was released on a $50,000 bond Saturday morning, KTVK and KSAZ reported, citing the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. He was also ordered to surrender his passport, stay away from minors, and, in accordance with Arizona state law, have electronic monitoring put in place, according to KTVK.

>> Arizona state Sen. Tony Navarrete released from jail

The Maricopa County Board will name Navarrete’s successor from nominations submitted by District 30 representatives, KPNX reported. That person will serve the remainder of Navarrete’s term, which ends in January 2023.

According to court documents released Friday, on Aug. 4 a 16-year-old boy told detectives that Navarrete put his hand down the victim’s pants and touched him inappropriately, KTVK reported.

The teen, who was 14 at the time, said Navarrete had touched him inappropriately when he was around 12 or 13, an alleged set of actions that continued until the victim was 15, KSAZ reported.

>> Arizona state Sen. Tony Navarrete accused of sexual conduct with a minor

The victim was living with Navarrete when the alleged crimes occurred, KPNX reported.

Navarrete also allegedly touched the upper leg of the victim’s younger brother, according to court documents. The younger teen swatted Navarrete’s hand away, according to the documents.

The chair of the Senate Ethics Committee said Monday she was opening an investigation that might have led to Navarrete’s expulsion from the Senate, KPNX reported.

Navarrete’s employer, Neighborhood Ministries, said he would be fired, the television station reported.

A status conference on Navarrete’s case is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. MST Thursday, according to the Republic.


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