LAKEPORT — A judge Monday postponed the child sex abuse trial of a former Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) deputy while the defense prepares to file a motion requesting a change of venue.
Derik Dion Navarro, 40, has pleaded not guilty to 16 felonies related to alleged sexual acts against one girl — reportedly an ex-babysitter — more than five years ago.
The case against Navarro, who worked for the LCSO from 2002 until a week before his April 2007 arrest, appeared to be resolved in early December when he agreed to a plea deal on the morning of his trial.
The agreement called for the former deputy to plead guilty to one count of unlawful intercourse with a person younger than 16 in exchange for up to four months in jail, probation and no sex-offender registration.
However, on Jan. 9 Lake County Superior Court Judge Andrew S. Blum denounced the proposed sentence and rejected the deal, which had received support from the alleged victim and prosecutor David Druliner, of the California Attorney General”s Office.
Navarro withdrew his guilty plea as a result of the judge”s decision.
The trial was later rescheduled for March 28, but defense counsel Mitchell Hauptman filed a motion requesting a continuance earlier this month.
The defense intends to ask for a change of venue and needs several weeks to complete its investigation and file the motion, according to Hauptman.
Blum granted the continuance Monday morning at the Lake County Courthouse.
A hearing on the change of venue is set for April 11 at 8:15 a.m. in a courtroom to be determined during a scheduling appearance April 5.
Blum vacated the March 28 trial date and did not schedule new start day.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
