LAKE COUNTY ?A jury trial is set for Aug. 19 for a former Lake County deputy sheriff accused of sex acts with two minors.
Kelseyville resident Derik Navarro, 36, faces 18 felony counts and two misdemeanor counts related to sex acts with minors.
The complaint filed April 16, 2007 with the Lake County Superior Court charges Navarro with nine felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor younger than 16 years old, six felony counts of oral copulation with a minor younger than 16 years old, two misdemeanor counts of annoying and/or molesting a minor younger than 18 years old, and one felony count each of lewd and lascivious acts on a 14-year-old, sodomy with a minor younger than 16 years old and exhibiting harmful matter to a minor with the intent to arouse sexual desire.
“I am not going to comment on why there may have been delays, except ? the defendant has had several attorneys,” prosecutor John DeChaine said Monday.
Court records show that Mitchell Hauptman is Navarro”s third defense attorney. Defense attorney Susan Feeney withdrew March 3, at which time Hauptman took over the case.
Navarro waived his right to a speedy trial following his April 18, 2007 arrest. The arrest followed a nearly three-month criminal investigation by the Lake County District Attorney”s Office.
DeChaine refused to comment on any aspect of the case, except to confirm upcoming court dates.
District Attorney Jon Hopkins wrote in an April 18, 2007 press release, “The majority of the alleged wrongdoing was against one female juvenile and allegedly occurred over a time span beginning in May 2005, when she was 14 years old, through May 2006, after she had turned 15. The complaint also alleges wrongdoing by Mr. Navarro against a second female juvenile, resulting in one misdemeanor criminal charge.”
The Lake County Sheriff”s Department (LCSD) put Navarro on administrative leave and launched an internal affairs investigation Jan. 23, 2007. Navarro”s employment with the LCSD ended April 11, 2007. Navarro was booked into the Lake County Jail April 18, 2007 and was released the same day after posting $20,000 bail.
DeChaine would not comment on Navarro”s whereabouts. Hauptman did not return calls to his office as the Record-Bee went to press Monday night.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
