Convicted Sex Offender Navarro Who Called Himself 'Warden A**hole' Faces Prison Time

SAN ANGELO, TX — It took a Tom Green County jury four hours of deliberations and working through lunch to reach a guilty verdict  on all counts Wednesday amid sordid explicit testimony with witnesses and family members breaking down in the courtroom.

Jimmy Urista Navarro, 40, was convicted on one count of sexual assault of a child and one count of prohibited sexual conduct after jurors witnessed testimony and evidence masterfully presented by Assistant District Attorney Ashley Knight securing the convictions.

The day’s court proceedings began with defense attorney Kirk Hawkins calling Karla Kates to the stand in the guilt/innocence phase of the trial.  Kates was a one time neighbor to Jimmy Navarro and testified he was a good person.  Much of the detail of testimony in this trial has purposefully been left out to protect the identities of the victims.

Hawkins rested his case and then Knight called rebuttal witnesses.

Knight first called Rebecca Hopkins to the stand.  Hopkins is a custodian of records for the San Angelo Independent School District.  She testified about the attendance records of the underaged victims.

The assistant District Attorney then called a minor male child to the witness stand.  His testimony corroborated the testimony of both of the victims including gut-wrenching details including physical and emotional abuse.

Knight rested the state’s case at 9:44 a.m. Wednesday and after a brief recess, District Judge Jay Weatherby read the charges to the jury.  Members of the four women and eight men jury listened to the judge’s instructions carefully; some leaning forward in their chairs.

Then it was time for closing arguments.  Knight approached the jury and told jurors the evidence showed there was no confession in the case and no physical evidence; the verdict would rest on whom jurors believed. Knight told jurors it was their job to determine the credibility of the witnesses and asked, “Who had a motive to lie here?”

Knight told jurors to consider the witnesses’ body language.  Testifying about sexual abuse wasn’t easy or fun for the victims and both of them were very emotional, crying on the stand when recounting the explicit details of the assaults.  Knight reminded jurors that Jimmy Navarro’s demeanor on the stand was defensive and he denied all the allegations.  Knight told the jurors that “Jimmy lied to y’all and it’s time for justice for the girls.”

Navarro’s defense attorney Kirk Hawkins told the jury there was no DNA evidence and no physical evidence supporting the charges.  Hawkins asked jurors “Which story is correct and who has the motivation to lie?"

The jury retired to the jury room and began deliberations at 10:47 a.m.  After it became clear they would not reach a verdict by noon, the decision was made to order in lunch for the jury.  Those in attendance were notified and given the opportunity to go to lunch as well.

Four hours later, the jury foreman notified District Judge Jay Weatherby they had reached a unanimous verdict.  The jury was brought back into the courtroom.  The victims were present as well along with family members and friends.  Judge Weatherby asked the jury if they had reached a verdict and if it was unanimous.  The jury foreman said yes.  He then handed the jury charges documents to the bailiff who gave them to the judge.

Judge Weatherby then asked Jimmy Navarro to stand as Weatherby read the verdicts.  Weatherby read that the jury unanimously found Navarro guilty on count one and guilty on count two.  Navarro was standing shaking his head back and forth as a person would to indicate no.  The victims and their family members and friends broke down and cried in the gallery.

The judge then instructed the jury to return to the jury room and that the punishment phase would begin after a recess.

During her brief opening statement in the punishment phase, Assistant District Attorney Knight told jurors they would hear more difficult testimony.  She said the state didn’t believe probation would be appropriate in this case. Navarro is only eligible for probation because he has no prior felony convictions.

Hawkins in his opening statement asked jurors for probation.

Assistant District Attorney Megan Wyatt then called Juanita Perez to the witness stand.  Perez testified that she was Navarro’s ex-wife.  She described instances of violence she suffered at the hands of Jimmy Navarro.  She testified that he beat her and at one point in their volatile relationship he threw her out of their apartment naked with nothing but a trash bag to cover herself with.

Under cross examination, Perez admitted to drug convictions and drug use during their relationship.  Perez testified that Navarro threatened to kill her.

Next on the stand was the second minor female victim.  Assistant D.A. Knight asked her to describe some details of the assaults by Navarro.  At one point the victim testified that Navarro during his abuse called himself the, “Warden; Warden A**hole.”

There were moans and tears from the gallery during her testimony.

The final victim on Wednesday was fingerprint expert Robin Hooper.  Hooper is a Crime Scene Technician for the San Angelo Police Department.  Hooper testified that she took fingerprints from Jimmy Navarro on Wednesday and those matched fingerprints on two documents for a Jimmy Navarro who was found guilty of two class B misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana in 1998.

Because Navarro hasn’t been convicted of a felony in the past, he is eligible for probation.  The range of punishment for the two second degree felony convictions is two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.  Had the charges been aggravated sexual assault, they would be a first degree felony and Navarro would have faced punishment ranging from 5 to 99 years or life in prison.

Judge Weatherby recessed the proceedings at 4:32 p.m. Wednesday.  Prosecutors and defense attorneys told Judge Weatherby they could finish presenting evidence on Thursday.  The judge sent jurors home and instructed them to be back in the courthouse by 9 a.m. Thursday.