Victims sought as woman is arraigned

A Crescent City woman suspected of befriending local residents in order to steal from them is scheduled to be arraigned today, and the Del Norte County District Attorney’s Office is looking for more victims.

Formal charges are scheduled to be filed at 9 a.m. against Tina Marie Navarro, 42, who was arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery, theft from an elder and grand theft (more than $400 value of items stolen).

She is also facing possible charges of possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia.

 “There’s an ongoing investigation with numerous victims,” said Deputy District Attorney Lisa Specchio.

Navarro also has also served a previous prison sentence for her involvement in the fatal beating and robbery of a Smith River senior 11 years ago.

In her current case, authorities said Navarro posed as a potential caretaker to gain the trust of people ranging in age from 61 to their 80s, according to Specchio.

Navarro pleaded not guilty to all charges Sept. 23. She is represented by local attorney Darren McElfresh.

Specchio said the DA’s office is looking for more victims and would like help from the public.

“If they’ve been victimized, we’d like to hear from them,” said Specchio.

Anyone with information on Navarro’s case or alleged victims may call the Del Norte County District Attorney’s Office at 707-464-7210.

Navarro  has a previous felony conviction from 1998, for her involvement in the robbery and beating death of a Smith River man.

She was known as Tina Marie Hernandez at the time of her conviction, according to court documents. She pleaded guilty to orchestrating the robbery of Harry Walter Allen, 70, on Nov. 29, 1998. Two juveniles were involved in the crime, court documents say.

Allen died at a Medford hospital on Dec. 9 from the injuries sustained during the robbery, according to court documents.

According to testimony included in the court documents, Navarro had thought up the robbery to get money for cigarettes, alcohol and methamphetamine.

Navarro was sentenced to the middle term of six years apiece for voluntary manslaughter and residential burglary, with the sentences served concurrently.

Navarro also supplied one of the baseball bats that the two juveniles used to beat Allen to death, according to court documents.

Benjamin Harless, then 16, of Brookings, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree robbery in 1998 and was sentenced to 15 years to life for Allen’s murder. Harless reportedly struck Allen with a metal bat at least 30 times during the robbery.

Navarro’s nephew, Steven Hernandez Jr., then 17, pleaded guilty for his involvement in the robbery and was sentenced to 9 months at Bar-O Boys Ranch. His specific charges were not available because he was tried as a juvenile.

Hernandez Jr. testified that Navarro told him and Harless where Allen kept his valuables, due to Navarro having cleaned the home before.