Jury Sentences Warden A**hole to Maximum Prison Time

SAN ANGELO, TX — Jimmy Urista Navarro was sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison on two counts of sexual assault of a child Thursday morning by the same Tom Green County jury that found him guilty the day before.

Assistant District Attorney Ashley Knight called one final witness to the stand Thursday in the punishment phase of the trial.  The first victim testified that Navarro sexually abused her on multiple occasions.  She told jurors through tears that she was afraid of Navarro.  “I was afraid of everything.  I feel like everywhere I go I have to watch my back.”

After the victim’s testimony both the defense and prosecution rested.   District Judge Weatherby then recessed the trial while he prepared the punishment charges for the jury.

Navarro sat in a chair under a clock on the wall as time clicked slowly by.  He looked down studying a yellow legal pad on the table in front of him.  He could’ve been anyone studying in a classroom or a library except for the uniformed Tom Green County jailer setting directly behind him.

Navarro must have thought about being eligible for probation.  Perhaps he thought of leaving out the front door of the courthouse a free man on probation or leaving out the back of the courthouse and across the street to the jail cell where he has spent the last 13 months.

Prison or freedom.  It was all up to the jury.

At 9:44 a.m. Judge Weatherby read the punishment charges to the jury.  The jury on Wednesday found Navarro guilty of one count of sexual assault of a child and one count of prohibited sexual conduct.  Both charges are a second degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.  The sentences run concurrently.

Many details revealed during testimony in this trial have been omitted from this article to protect the identities of the victims.  

After the charges were read, closing arguments were presented.  Assistant District Attorney Megan Wyatt told the jury they had heard some pretty horrific stuff during testimony.  She called Navarro’s actions ‘monstrous acts’ during a ‘reign of terror.’

Defense attorney Kirk Hawkins told jurors Navarro was eligible for probation and had no prior felony convictions.  He asked jurors to grant Navarro probation because the rules and conditions are set by the court and are rigorously enforced.

Knight then addressed the jury.  Knight told jurors Navarro lied to them about the facts of the case and asked them to give the victims peace of mind by sentencing Navarro to the maximum 20 years.  Knight said Navarro earned every day of that sentence.

The jury retired to deliberate at 10:25 a.m.  At 11:42 a.m. the jury informed the judge through the bailiff that they had reached a verdict.  Judge Weatherby read the sentence in open court at 11:53 a.m. Thursday.  Both victims were in the courtroom when Weatherby sentenced Navarro to the maximum 20 years on each count.  The sentences run concurrently.  Navarro was given credit for the thirteen months he has served in the Tom Green County jail since his arrest on Dec. 14, 2017.  He must serve half his sentence, 10 years, before he will be eligible for parole.  Navarro has the right to appeal the jury’s verdict.  He was remanded to the custody of the Tom Green County Sheriff and was transported back to jail.