A straightforward Superior Court hearing turned surprisingly contentious on Wednesday, June 11, when the prosecutor and judge exchanged loaded statements during a discussion of a defendant’s release conditions.
The hearing was part of ongoing proceedings in the case of Kyle Norberto, one of the 10 suspects named by the Flagstaff Police Department from an online sex sting operation conducted in March.
kAm}@C36CE@ :D 492C865 H:E9 @?6 4@F?E @7 49:=5 D6I EC277:4<:?8 7@C 2==6865=J 28C66:?8 E@ 6?8286 :? AC@DE:EFE:@? H:E9 2 >:?@C]k^Am
kAm}@C36CE@[ af[ H2D 2CC6DE65 @? pAC:= b 2?5 92D C6>2:?65 :? E96 4FDE@5J @7 E96 r@4@?:?@ r@F?EJ s6E6?E:@? u24:=:EJ D:?46] w6 H2D 36:?8 96=5 @? 2 S`__[___ 3@?5] !F3=:4 5676?56C r9C:DE:?6 qC@H? 7:=65 2 >@E:@? E@ >@5:7J C6=62D6 4@?5:E:@?D[ C6BF6DE:?8 6:E96C 2 C65F4E:@? :? 3@?5 @C 2 C6=62D6 H:E9 DFA6CG:D:@? 3J E96 4@F?EJVD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@4@?:?@]2K]8@G^``f^!C6EC:2=\$6CG:46DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm!C6EC:2= $6CG:46D &?:Ek^2m]k^Am
kAmpE (65?6D52J’D 962C:?8 :? s:G:D:@? f[ qC@H? DE2E65 E92E }@C36CE@ 92D E96 DFAA@CE @7 9:D :>>65:2E6 72>:=J >6>36CD \\ EH@ @7 H9@> H6C6 AC6D6?E :? 4@FCE \\ 2?5 E92E 96 92D ?@ AC:@C 4C:>:?2= 9:DE@CJ @7 2?J EJA6] $96 2=D@ ?@E65 E92E E96 DE2E6 925 ?@E 7:=65 2 7@C>2= >@E:@? :? @AA@D:E:@? E@ }@C36CE@’D A@DD:3=6 C6=62D6]k^Am
kAms6DA:E6 E96 =24< @7 2 AC:@C >@E:@?[ $6?:@C r@>>:DD:@?6C s2? $=2JE@? D2:5 96 H@F=5 962C E96 DE2E6’D A@D:E:@? 7C@> 56AFEJ 4@F?EJ 2EE@C?6J $2D92 r92C=D[ H9@ AC@D64FE6D 42D6D :?G@=G:?8 9F>2? EC277:4<:?8[ D6I EC277:4<:?8 2?5 D6IF2= 6IA=@:E2E:@? @7 >:?@CD]k^Am
kAmr92C=D 2A@=@8:K65 7@C ?@E 92G:?8 7:=65 2 HC:EE6? >@E:@? :? E96 42D6]k^Am
kAm“x�> 8@:?8 E@ >2<6 E96 D2>6 2C8F>6?E E92E x >2<6 H:E9 2== @7 E96D6 42D6D[� D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$96 DE2E65 E92E E96 ?2EFC6 2?5 4:C4F>DE2?46D @7 E96 2==6865 @776?D6 >256 }@C36CE@ 2? :?96C6?E C:D< E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ :7 C6=62D65 7C@> ;2:=]k^Am
kAmqFE D96 2=D@ 25565 E92E C6=62D:?8 }@C36CE@ H@F=5 4@?EC2G6?6 AF3=:4 @A:?:@?]k^Am
kAm“x 5@ E9:?<[ 6G6?EF2==J[ H96? H6 <66A C6=62D:?8 E96D6 5676?52?ED E@ !C6EC:2= $6CG:46D[ E96 4@>>F?:EJ’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 FAD6E[� r92C=D D2:5]k^Am
kAmxE H2D E9:D A2CE @7 96C DE2E6>6?E E92E $=2JE@? E@@< :DDF6 H:E9[ 564=2C:?8 96 H2?E65 E@ “AFD9 324<� 282:?DE E96 DF886DE:@? E92E 96 @F89E E@ 32D6 9:D ;F58>6?E @? 4@>>F?:EJ D6?E:>6?E]k^Am
kAm“%92E :?G:E6D E96 4@FCE E@ 4@>A=6E6=J :8?@C6 E96 @3=:82E:@?D[ 3@E9 6E9:42= 2?5 =682=[ E@ 4@?D:56C E96 724E@CD D6E @FE :? ,pC:K@?2 #6G:D65 $E2EFE6D. `b\bhef 2?5 >2<6 2 564:D:@?[” $=2JE@? D2:5] Wk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2K=68]8@G^2CD^`b^_bhef]9E>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmp#$ `b\bhefk^2m :D E96 DE2E6 =2H 8@G6C?:?8 C6=62D6 367@C6 EC:2=]Xk^Am
kAmp== 5676?52?ED[ 96 DEC6DD65[ 2C6 4@?D:56C65 :??@46?E F?E:= AC@G6? 8F:=EJ] p?5 96 @A:?65 E92E E96 @E96C $FA6C:@C r@FCE ;F586D H@F=5 =:<6=J ?@E =@@< 72G@C23=J FA@? r92C=D� 2C8F>6?E 6:E96C]k^Am
kAm%@ E92E[ r92C=D C6DA@?565 E92E E96 @E96C ;F586D 925?’E C6=62D65 �6G6CJ3@5J� E@ !C6EC:2= $6CG:46D \\ 2? F?FDF2= DE2E6>6?E E92E[ H9:=6 ?@E 5:C64E=J 244FD2E@CJ[ D66>65 E@ 36 2 E9:?=J G6:=65 4C:E:4:D> @7 E96 ;F586]k^Am
kAm“}@E 6G6CJ3@5J :D |C] }@C36CE@[� $=2JE@? C6E@CE65[ 6>A92D:K:?8 E92E C6=62D6 564:D:@?D 2C6 DFAA@D65 E@ 36 >256 @? 2? :?5:G:5F2= 32D:D 7@C 6249 5676?52?E]k^Am
kAmr92C=D E96? DE2E65 E92E @?=:?6 4@>>6?E6CD 925 C624E65 ?682E:G6=J E@ ?6HD 2CE:4=6D 23@FE @E96C 5676?52?ED 7C@> E96 DE:?8 @A6C2E:@? A@DE:?8 3@?5 @C @E96CH:D6 36:?8 C6=62D65 7C@> ;2:= A6?5:?8 E96 C6D@=FE:@? @7 E96:C 42D6D] pD 2 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 @7 E96 4@>>F?:EJ[ D96 D2:5[ “xE’D >J 5FEJ E@ 2C8F6 E92E A@D:E:@?]â€k^Am
kAm%9:D 255:E:@? 4=62C=J 5:5 ?@E :>AC6DD $=2JE@?[ H9@ C6A=:65[ “x H@F=5 9@A6 E92E J@FC @77:46 H@F=5 4@?D:56C[ @C 2E =62DE 36 H:==:?8 E@ 4@?D:56C[ E96 ?2EFC6 @7 4@>>6?ED E92E 2C6 >256 @? AF3=:4 7@CF>D â€� 2?5 H@F=5 ?@E E2<6 >2C49:?8 @C56CD 7C@> 2?@?J>@FD 4@>>6?ED >256 @? D@4:2= >65:2]â€k^Am
kAmw6 25565i “x H@F=5 E9:?< E92E @FC @3=:82E:@? E@ E96 =2H 2?5 ;FDE:46 H@F=5 56>2?5 E92E H6 E2<6 @FC G:6HD 7C@> >@C6 AC@76DD:@?2= D@FC46D[ DF49 2D E96 4@?DE:EFE:@?[ @FC DE2EFE6D ,2?5. E96 EC2:?:?8 H6 C646:G6]”k^Am
kAmr:E:?8 E96 C6DF=ED @7 2 AF3=:4 D276EJ 2DD6DD>6?E[ H9:49 277:C>65 E92E }@C36CE@ 925 ?@ 4C:>:?2= 9:DE@CJ 2?5 2DD:8?65 9:> E96 =@H6DE A@DD:3=6 C2E:?8 7@C =:<6=:9@@5 @7 C6@776?5:?8 @C 72:=:?8 E@ 2AA62C[ $=2JE@? @C56C65 E96 5676?52?E C6=62D65 E@ !C6EC:2= $6CG:46D @? E96 4@?5:E:@?D E92E 96 C6D:56 H:E9 72>:=J[ 4@?DF>6 ?@ 2=4@9@= 2?5 92G6 ?@ :?E6C?6E 2446DD H92ED@6G6C]k^Am
kAm#6EFC?:?8 E@ r92C=D� DF886DE:@? E92E E96 564:D:@? >:89E AC@>AE 4@>>F?:EJ 4@?46C?[ $=2JE@? D2:5[ “x H@F=5 :?G:E6 2?J@?6 7C@> @FC 4@>>F?:EJ E@ 4@>6 :? 2?5 H2E49 E96D6 AC@4665:?8D[� 2?5 96 @?46 282:? DA64:7:42==J C676C6?465 p#$ `b\bhef[ E96 2AA=:423=6 DE2E6 =2H]k^Am
kAm$=2JE@? 2=D@ EH:46 C676CC65 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2K52:=JDF?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^@FC\G:6H\4@?5:E:@?2=\C6=62D6\@7\;@?6D\9@?@CD\365C@4<\AC:?4:A=6D^2CE:4=602f5af355\b6d4\dhb4\gf2c\`a3a4fae5a56]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2? 65:E@C:2=k^2m AF3=:D965 3J E96 pC:K@?2 s2:=J $F? :? a_`e[ C682C5:?8 9:D 564:D:@? E@ C6=62D6 }@CE96C? pC:K@?2 &?:G6CD:EJ 42>AFD D9@@E6C $E6G6? y@?6D E@ A2C6?E2= DFA6CG:D:@? A6?5:?8 EC:2=]k^Am
kAm�%96J H6C6 G6CJ 8@@5 2?5 G6CJ 4=62C 2?5 G6CJ 244FC2E6 :? A@:?E:?8 @FE E92E E96 AC6DF>AE:@? @7 :??@46?46[ :7 :E >62?D 2?JE9:?8 2E 2==[ 92D E@ >62? D@>6E9:?8 @? C6=62D6 4@?5:E:@?D[� $=2JE@? D2:5]k^Am
k9cmw@77>2? A=625D 8F:=EJk^9cm
kAmp?@E96C @7 E96 5676?52?ED 7C@> E96 DE:?8 @A6C2E:@?[ r9C:DE@A96C w@77>2?[ A=62565 8F:=EJ 367@C6 $=2JE@? @? %9FCD52J >@C?:?8kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm[ yF?6 `ak^DA2?m[ >2C<:?8 E96 7:CDE 25>:DD:@? @7 8F:=E :? 2?J @7 E96 42D6D] r92C=D H2D 2=D@ C6AC6D6?E:?8 E96 DE2E6 7@C E92E 962C:?8[ H9:49 AC@466565 C@FE:?6=J W27E6C EH@ A@DEA@?6>6?ED :? E96 A2DE EH@ >@?E9DX]k^Am
kAmw@77>2?’D A=62 C6D@=G65 EH@ 42D6D 282:?DE 9:>i @?6 7@C 2EE6>AE:?8 E@ D@=:4:E D6IF2= 4@?5F4E 7C@> 2? F?56C4@G6C =2H 6?7@C46>6?E @77:46C A@D:?8 2D 2 >:?@C @?=:?6[ 2?5 @?6 7@C D6==:?8 76?E2?J= 2?5 >6E92>A96E2>:?6 E@ 2 4@?7:56?E:2= :?7@C>2?E H@C<:?8 H:E9 E96 A@=:46] w6 H2D @? AC@32E:@? 7@C 2 AC6G:@FD 5CF8 @776?D6 H96? 96 H2D 2CC6DE65 :? ~4E@36C a_ac[ 2?5 96 925 EH@ AC6G:@FD 76=@?J 4@?G:4E:@?D 7@C 5CF8 A@DD6DD:@?]k^Am
kAmw@77>2? A=62565 8F:=EJ E@ @?6 4@F?E @7 2EE6>AE65 288C2G2E65 =FC:?8 @7 2 >:?@C \\ 288C2G2E65 >62?:?8 E96 @DE6?D:3=6 G:4E:> H2D F?56C E96 286 @7 `d \\ @?6 4@F?E @7 2EE6>AE65 D2=6 @7 2 ?2C4@E:4 5CF8 2?5 @?6 4@F?E @7 2EE6>AE65 D2=6 @7 2 52?86C@FD 5CF8]k^Am
kAmp== 2C6 r=2DD b 76=@?:6D[ 2?5 AC@32E:@? :D ?@E 2G2:=23=6 7@C E96 5CF8 492C86D]k^Am
kAmx7 w@77>2? H6C6 E@ C646:G6 E96 >2I:>F> A@DD:3=6 288C2G2E65 D6?E6?46D 7@C 6249 @776?D6[ 96 H@F=5 7246 @G6C bb J62CD :? DE2E6 AC:D@?] w@H6G6C[ 9:D A=62 28C66>6?E DE:AF=2E6D 2 AC:D@? E6C> @7 `_ E@ `d]fd J62CD 7@C E96 EH@ 5CF8 492C86D[ H:E9 DFA6CG:D65 AC@32E:@? \\ A@DD:3=J 4@?E:?F:?8 7@C =:76 2?5 2=>@DE F?5@F3E65=J :?4=F5:?8 D6I @776?56C C68:DEC2E:@? \\ E@ 368:? 27E6CH2C5]k^Am
kAm$=2JE@? 2=D@ ?@E65 E92E[ 3J 6?E6C:?8 :?E@ E96 A=62[ w@77>2? H@F=5 2FE@>2E:42==J 36 7@F?5 :? G:@=2E:@? @7 9:D AC6G:@FD AC@32E:@? 28C66>6?E[ 2?5 4@F=5 :?4FC 255:E:@?2= ;2:= @C AC:D@? E:>6 2D 2 A6?2=EJ]k^Am
kAmp 52E6 7@C w@77>2?’D D6?E6?4:?8 92D ?@E J6E 366? 4@?7:C>65]k^Am