Jury Finds Navarro Guilty on All Counts

Update Jan 23, 3:06 p.m.

After four hours of deliberations a Tom Green County jury found Jimmy Navarro guilty on both counts of sexual assault of a child.  The same jury began deliberations in the punishment phase of the trial shortly after 3 p.m.  The trial is expected to continue into Thursday.

Update, Jan. 23, 10:47 a.m.:  The jury is now in the deliberation phase of the Jimmy Navarro trial.

After a rebuttal witness on Wednesday morning, both sides rested.

If convicted, Navarro faces two to 20 years in prison.

Original story, Jan. 22:

SAN ANGELO, TX — Prosecutors rested their case in the sexual assault jury trial of Jimmy Navarro Tuesday afternoon during the first day of testimony after putting several witnesses on the stand including the two girls who testified they were sexually assaulted.

Assistant District Attorney Ashley Knight in her opening statement told the four women and nine men on the jury that they would be hearing ‘difficult stuff’ and to judge the credibility of the witnesses.

Defense Attorney Kirk Hawkins told the jury there are always two sides to every story and look for motivation in determining what is true and what is not.

40-year-old Jimmy Urista Navarro has been indicted on two counts of sexual assault of a child.  He stands accused of having sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old girl in 2015 and a 15-year-old girl in 2017.

Knight called two San Angelo Police Department Criminal Investigation Division detectives to testify.  The first detective told the court he responded to a 911 call reporting the sexual assault of a child.  He said he met with the complainant  and interviewed her.  The detective said the alleged victim who is now an adult was cooperative and forthcoming until she began describing the details of the assault then she broke down and cried.

The detective testified on cross examination that he executed a search warrant at Navarro’s apartment on Lillie St. and photographed each room.  Prosecutors admitted 35 photographs of the residence as evidence.

The second detective called to the stand by prosecutors is a Crimes Against Children Unit Detective.  She testified she took both alleged victims to Hope House for forensic interviews but only the younger girl was interviewed.  The detective told the jury they collected bedding and a cell phone at the apartment and took a DNA sample from Navarro.  The detective said the evidence was not tested at the Department of Public Safety Crime Lab in Lubbock.

The second detective testified that she interviewed Navarro after he was released from the hospital.  Navarro was arrested the night of the 911 call at his apartment and became ill while in police custody.  Testimony showed Navarro has health issues and has been hospitalized for them.  He also has a difficult time keeping a job because of his health.

Knight then called Jennifer Dube to the witness stand.  Dube is a forensic interviewer with Hope House who interviewed the younger alleged victim.  She testified that the girl was frightened and emotional.

The Assistant District Attorney then called the first alleged victim to the stand.  Jurors seemed to be disgusted and repulsed as the girl cried uncontrollably as she described the details of the alleged assault.

After the trial broke for lunch. Knight called the second alleged victim to the stand.  The girl testified that she and first victim met and talked about their alleged abuse and the first victim then called authorities.

Assistant District Attorney Knight rested the state’s case around 1:45 p.m.

After a short recess so Hawkins could consult with his client, the trial resumed and Hawkins called Navarro to the witness stand in his own defense.

Under questioning, Navarro told jurors he did not commit the alleged sexual assaults.

Hawkins told the judge he would call at least one more witness Wednesday morning.  District Judge Jay Weatherby recessed the trial instructing jurors to be back in the courthouse on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.