'I’m sorry, mijo:' Arizona Democrat facing charges of sexually assaulting teens resigns after cops reveal he apologized to one of the boys and said he 'wasn't well'
- 'Tony' Navarrete, 35, resigned on Tuesday and said he adamantly denies the allegations
- He was arrested on August 5, after police heard a wired phone conversation in which he allegedly apologized to his 16-year-old victim
- After the arrest, Navarrete posted a $50,000 bail and was released from jail on Saturday
- Navarrete, who has served since 2018, is expected to appear in court on Thursday
Arizona State Senator Tony Navarrete, 35, was arrested on charges of sexual conduct with a minor related to a 2019 incident
A prominent Arizona state senator who was arrested after he apologized to one of his alleged sexual assault victims in a recorded conversation resigned Tuesday - but not before denying the accusations.
Democrat Otoniel 'Tony' Navarrete, 35, was caught on a wiretap by Phoenix Police seemingly admitting to sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy.
'I'm sorry, mijo,' he reportedly said to the victim in the call. He went on to tell him he 'wasn't well,' according to the arrest report.
Cops set up the sting after the teenager told them Navarrete had been abusing him since he was 12 or 13 and continued to do so until he was 15.
Another 13-year-old told cops Navarrete had tried to touch his genitals.
Navarrete, who represented Maricopa County, was arrested August 5 and faces seven felony charges.
He posted a $50,000 bail and was released on Saturday amid unanimous bipartisan calls for his resignation.
Navarrete posted a $50,000 bail and was released on Saturday. He appeared in court for a hearing yesterday. Pictured in 2018 during a mandatory sexual harassment training
Navarrete has represented Phoenix in the State Senate since 2018 after previously serving in the state House for one term
'I adamantly deny all allegations that have been made and will pursue all avenues in an effort to prove my innocence. In doing so, I will be focusing the vast majority of my time and energy on my defense,'
'While I would love nothing more than to continue to serve the families of Arizona's 30th District, I worry it will be impossible to give my constituents the full attention they deserve. Therefore, I must resign my post as Arizona State Senator today,' Navarrete wrote in the email.
A native Arizonan, Navarrete was a rising star in Democratic circles. He was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2016 when he was just 30, and served one term before being elected to the state Senate in 2018. He also served as deputy director of Promise Arizona, a non-profit organization.
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Navarrete faces seven felony charges and if found guilty could be jailed for up to 49 years
Navarrete's next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday this week. Pictured in 2017 at the Arizona Capitol
The former State Senator resigned from office yesterday, in a one-sentence email that read 'I am officially resigning my post as Arizona State Senator for District 30'
Arizona Capitol Times reported that Navarrete had been considered a rising star in the Democratic Party and was expected to run for state treasurer.
Little is known about Navarrete's personal life beyond the fact that he is openly gay. In 2020, he opposed a bill that sought to ban sex education in elementary and middle schools, saying that he might have been able to come out sooner had his teachers been able to answer his questions about homosexuality, according to the Times.
Navarrete, who was born in Phoenix, was raised by a single mother who was an undocumented immigrant, according to radio station WBUR. He earned a bachelor's degree in Urban and Metropolitan Studies from Arizona State University.
According to the Arizona State Legislature website, he became involved with social justice projects from an early age, and worked at the nonprofit Neighborhood Ministries.
Navarrete then moved to New York to work on housing and job issues but returned to Arizona when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
He has sponsored bills on educational, medical and immigration issues.
Navarrete is set to appear in court on Thursday for a hearing. Prosecutors said he could face up to 49 years in prison if found guilty on all seven counts he faces.
He faces a Class 2 felony for molestation of a child, three Class 2 felonies for sexual conduct with a minor, one Class 3 felony for attempted sexual conduct with a minor and two Class 6 felonies for sexual conduct with a minor.
