Lawmaker Tony Navarrete accused of child sex crimes released on bond

PHOENIX — Arizona state Sen. Tony Navarrete was released on bond after being arrested Thursday on suspicion of sexual conduct with a minor.

Bond was set for the Arizona lawmaker at $50,000 and posted on Saturday morning.

The Phoenix Police Department said in a press release Friday it had probable cause to take Navarrete, 35, into custody after interviewing the juvenile victim and witnesses. The alleged crimes occurred in 2019 with a child who said he was 12 or 13 at the time, according to a probable cause statement.

Navarrete was charged with three counts of sexual conduct with a minor (class 2 felony), two counts of sexual conduct with a minor (class 6 felony), one count of attempted sexual conduct with a minor and one count of molestation of a child.

Both Republican and Democrat state leaders, including Gov. Doug Ducey have called on Navarrete to resign in light of the allegations.

There has not been any indication Navarrete will heed to those calls.

He is in his second term as a senator in District 30, which encompasses parts of Phoenix and Glendale. Before that, he served one term in the House.

His next court appearance will be a status conference Thursday at 10:30 a.m. before a preliminary hearing Aug. 16 at 10:30 a.m.

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