Former LCSO deputy accused of sex acts with minors

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Typical BS. Every time you see a cop busted on a sex charge, they try to make him look like a saint. Have you noticed that? Why do they protect their own when the average citizen gets nailed? If this was a citizen, they would have been fired on the spot, and be in jail right now, waiting for a trial.

04/18/2007

LAKE COUNTY -- A former Lake County deputy sheriff was arrested Wednesday morning and faces 18 felony counts and 2 misdemeanor counts related to sex acts with minors.

Derik Navarro, 35, was booked into the Lake County Jail Wednesday morning after a nearly three-month long criminal investigation by the District Attorney's Office found enough evidence to file the charges.

The complaint filed with the Lake County Superior Court charges Navarro with nine felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor under 16, six felony counts of oral copulation with a minor under 16, two misdemeanor counts of annoying and/or molesting a minor under 18, and one felony count each of lewd and lascivious acts on a 14-year-old, sodomy with a minor under 16, and exhibiting harmful matter to a minor with the intent to arouse sexual desire.

In a press release, Lake County District Attorney Jon Hopkins said the 18 felony charges were allegedly committed against one female juvenile, starting when she was 14 in May of 2005 and continuing through May 2006, after she had turned 15. The two misdemeanor charges stem from acts Navarro allegedly perpetrated against a second female juvenile, according to the report.

The LCSO conducted an internal affairs investigation on January 23 after receiving information about Navarro's misconduct. "The matter was of such consequence that we asked D.A. investigators to conduct a separate and independent criminal investigation," said Sheriff Rod Mitchell in a Wednesday morning press release.

Navarro was placed on administrative leave the same day while the administrative investigation was conducted until his employment with the LCSO ended last Wednesday, April 11. Mitchell noted that for him to release details of an internal affairs investigation is a misdemeanor.

"Everyone was caught off guard by the allegations, and the evidence that supported our finding in the administrative investigation," said Public Information Officer Cecil Brown in a Wednesday morning phone interview.

Navarro was hired by the LCSO in December 2002, and had been a well-respected member of the community. Lake Family Resource Center honored him as "Law Enforcement Officer of Distinction" at its annual domestic violence event held to honor victims of domestic abuse.
- Of distinction? Just you trying to protect your own. This is BS, he loves little girls. Treat him as the average citizen would be treated!

Programs Coordinator Janine Smith-Citron said prior to the October event that during the staff's interactions with Navarro as he had responded to domestic violence calls "he demonstrated professionalism and compassion with victims each time."
- I'm sure he did!

A description of Navarro's background written by Chief Deputy James Bauman for the October event reveals that in August 2005, Navarro was distinguished as the Community Resource Deputy for Middletown, Cobb and Hidden Valley Lake. It further states that Navarro has been married for 10 years and has four children, ages 11, 9, 8 and 5. Navarro was in the retail grocery business for approximately 10 years before becoming entering law enforcement, writes Bauman.
- Who gives a rats a$$? You bring up the good points for cops, but the average citizen you bring up all their bad past.

As of 12:06 p.m. Wednesday, Navarro had posted the $20,000 bail and was released. He is expected to appear in court on May 11 at 8:15 a.m., according to Lake County Jail staff.

"We've done our internal affairs investigation, and we're confident that we've done the right thing," said Brown. "We're truly disappointed that this ever happened, but once we became aware of it we did what we had to do," he added.

The D.A.'s criminal investigation is ongoing, said Hopkins. Anyone with information about the case should contact Chief Investigator Michael Clements or Deputy District Attorney John. R. Dechaine at 263-2251.