Former Arizona senator rejects plea offer in child sex abuse case
Former state Sen. Tony Navarrete appears to be going to trial for sex crimes against children next week, now that lawyers determined that a plea deal “does not appear to be possible.”
Death row inmate sentenced for young girl’s death set free
A man who sat on death row, despite the existence of exculpatory evidence, walked free today after 29 years behind bars.
Department of Education evaluating two investigations reported to Empower Hotline
The Empower Hotline, a tipline for reporting “critical race theory,” as well as “gender ideology, social emotional learning, or inappropriate sexual content,” only has two active investigations, according to the Arizona Department of Education.
Judge weighs request to toss Chasing Horse’s sex abuse case
A former "Dances With Wolves" actor accused of sexually abusing Indigenous women and girls in the U.S. and Canada for two decades has asked a judge in Nevada to toss out a sweeping indictment against him in state court.
FBI: Polygamous leader had 20 wives, many of them minors
The leader of a small polygamous group near the Arizona-Utah border had taken at least 20 wives, most of them minors, and punished followers who did not treat him as a prophet, newly filed federal court documents allege.
Bill to require clergy to report child sex abuse dies in Senate
Her daughter wouldn’t have spent the first 30 months of her life enduring violent abuse if a bill a panel of Arizona senators voted to kill under religious pressure today had been law six years ago, a mother told the Senate committee.
Time running out for some sex abuse victims to file suit
Time is quickly running out for many who were sexually assaulted or abused years ago as children to try to get some justice from perpetrators or those who allowed it to occur.
Arizona church sued over decades-old abuse allegations
Both lawsuits were brought Monday under a 2019 state law that extends the right of people who say they were abused as children to sue until their 30th birthday — a decade longer than before.
Panel recommends broader definition of ‘position of trust’ in child sex abuse laws
A special committee wants to revamp Arizona's sex abuse laws to make it easier to prosecute some people who violate their position of trust with their youthful victims.
More work needed to protect children from sexual predators
When Gov. Doug Ducey signed the Child Protection Act in May, he called it a “significant and critical first step.” He’s right about that. The law is a significant improvement in the previous legal landscape that had made Arizona a safe haven for child abusers. But it is just a first step.
Senate near on budget deal with holdout lawmaker
The fate of an $11.8 billion budget could be decided today as lawmakers debate the question of the liability of churches, the Boy Scouts and other organizations over old charges of sexual abuse.
Athlete who was victim of sex assault supports bill to aid victims
A former national speed skating champion lent her voice Tuesday to those who want to give victims of child sexual assault and abuse more time to sue their assailants – and specifically those who permitted it to happen.