A Phoenix-area Spanish teacher, 50-year-old Ernesto Moncada-Cota, was arrested earlier this week on allegations of a sexual relationship with a minor student.
Law enforcement charged Moncada-Cota with six felony counts of sexual conduct with a minor and sexual abuse according to reporting from Arizona Daily Independent.
Moncada-Cota, an immigrant from Mexico City, Mexico, taught at the Arizona Conservatory For Arts and Academics, where his alleged victim was a student. Moncada-Cota immigrated to Arizona around 2000 on a type of work visa, according to his statements made in various interviews and skits over the years. Administrators at the charter school became aware of Moncada-Cota’s alleged relationship on Tuesday, according to the Phoenix Police Department. That same day, Moncada-Cota was arrested.
Outside of teaching, Moncada-Cota was a longtime fixture in Phoenix’s local art scene as a performer, writer, musician, and director openly supportive of progressive social justice views like Black Lives Matter.
Moncada-Cota would feature his views through his art. One such display relative to his alleged recent crime was a 2011 skit focused on opposition to a controversial immigration enforcement bill: SB 1070, enabling law enforcement to request proof of citizenship from those suspected of being in the country illegally, which the Supreme Court largely upheld. In the skit, Moncada-Cota had a mock altercation with an actor portraying then-Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a major proponent of the bill.
In his skit, Moncada-Cota overpowers and whips the Arpaio character, who falls to the ground and becomes unresponsive, repeatedly calling him a “cabron” (meaning “b*****d” in English).
As one of his criticisms of Arpaio in the skit, Moncada-Cota questioned in a monologue why Arpaio would want to remove individuals like the “super hot” 12-year-old Latina girls he sees accompanying their parents at the supermarket.
“[The family is in] Ranch Market, you know, and the daughters are following them, super hot, like 22 hot in a magazine — they’re 12,” said Moncada-Cota. “Why does he want that out?”
Moncada-Cota then referred to the young girls as “cheap labor that looks good.”
Moncada-Cota’s other artistic endeavors included his work at the Alwun House, where he would host an annual Erotic Poetry & Music Festivus and various burlesque shows known as “Provocatease,” and an experimental theater ensemble called “Arcana Collective.”
Another recurring event featuring Moncada-Cota was a “satanic mass,” in honor of classic horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. Moncada-Cota told The Arizona Republic in 2014 that he had fun creating disturbing visuals for participants.
“I’d always wanted to stage a satanic mass just for the fun of it,” said Moncada-Cota.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
The No Labels Party argued for a federal injunction against Secretary of State Adrian Fontes in a court hearing on Friday.
Arizona District Court Judge John Tuchi heard Friday’s arguments from the party, which seeks to stop Fontes from putting non-presidential candidates under its label on this year’s primary and general election ballots.
The No Labels Party of Arizona, in a Thursday filing preceding the hearing, declared that their party was established for the purpose of placing only presidential and vice-presidential nominees on the 2024 general election ballot. The party cited its constitution and bylaws, which declared that the party would nominate only presidential and vice-presidential candidates, and no candidates for any state, county, municipal, school, or district office or position.
“No Labels Arizona asserts, and for the purposes of this litigation the Secretary does not contest, that No Labels Arizona’s only current objective is to ensure that Arizonans have a potential presidential candidate option other than the candidates who may be selected at the 2024 Democratic and Republican National Conventions,” stated the filing.
Fontes said in a letter to the party last September that any candidates of a valid political party had a right to participate in the primary election and determine that party’s nominee.
There are five individuals who filed interest to run under the No Labels Arizona banner, none of which relate to the presidency: Tyson Draper for Senate; Richard Grayson for the Arizona Corporation Commission; Omar Farooq Chaudry for Congress in the fifth district; Michael Bishop for state representative in the fifth district; and Sam Huang for state representative in the twelfth district.
As of October — the latest update offered by the secretary of state — there were just under 19,000 registered No Labels voters. There were over 1.45 million independent voters, over 1.44 million Republican voters, over 1.2 million Democratic voters, and over 33,700 Libertarian voters.
In their complaint, filed last October, the No Labels Party of Arizona argued that they reserved the right to deny nominations of candidates to the ballot based on state law and the Constitution.
No Labels Arizona state committee members include Gail Koshland Wachtel, a former University of Arizona professor who has donated over $242,000 exclusively to Democratic candidates, campaigns, and organizations over the last decade; Joel (Joe) Smyth, the former longtime board chair of Independent Newsmedia, with outlets across Arizona including Daily Independent, as well as outlets in Delaware, Florida, and Maryland; and Sentari Minor, vice president of strategy for evolvedMD.
Koshland Wachtel also served as the president and director of the Koshland Foundation, a California-based grantmaking nonprofit largely focused on reforming Oakland, California schools which boasted over $2.7 million in revenue and over $11 million in assets in 2022.
No Labels Arizona has yet to receive or submit any campaign contributions, and noted in its communications with Fontes that it doesn’t plan to do so in the future. Its national affiliate, based in D.C., was established in 2009.
The party has ballot access in 13 states as of Friday: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, and Utah, in addition to Arizona.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
On Thursday, former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio qualified to run for the 2024 Fountain Hills mayoral race. This would be his second time running for the position.
At 91 years old — 92 next June — and following his unseating as the longest-serving sheriff for the state’s largest county, Arpaio has run a series of unsuccessful campaigns. He ran for Senate in 2018 and then ran to reclaim his sheriff seat in 2020, before launching a bid in 2022 to become the Fountain Hills mayor.
In a press release, Arpaio announced that he’d obtained just shy of 600 signatures, the maximum number required to qualify for the ballot. Arpaio remarked that his mayoral bid sparked interest from at least one national news outlet, the Washington Post, who allegedly was unable to obtain negative commentary on Arpaio from Fountain Hills residents.
“A Washington Post reporter followed Arpaio around town on the campaign trail, and had difficulty finding anyone who would say anything negative about him,” said the press release. “I am thankful and honored for the citizens of Fountain Hills recognizing my wisdom, principles, and leadership. Never surrender!
I have obtained the maximum number of nominating petition signatures for my campaign for Fountain Hills, AZ mayor 2024. I am thankful & honored for the citizens of Fountain Hills recognizing my wisdom, principles, and leadership.
Signatures to qualify for the ballot aren’t due for another few months: candidates must turn in signatures between March 9 and April 8 by 5:00 pm.
The Washington Post coverage of Arpaio’s campaign, published early last month, focused on former President Donald Trump’s 2017 pardon of Arpaio over his continued practice of profiling and detaining Hispanic individuals as illegal immigrants despite a court order against it. The Post portrayed the pardon as one of a series from the former president, allegedly issued with the expectation that the beneficiaries would supply political favors down the road. This year, that would be securing the presidential nomination.
Arpaio gained mass media attention, and both praise and scrutiny for his “Tent City”: his outdoor jail facility established in 1993 outside of downtown Phoenix. In a 2018 documentary, Arpaio said that his contrived system was just and fair.
“I did it to make it tough, and when anybody complains I have one thing to say, and it shuts everybody’s mouth: [the] men and women fighting for our country, they live in tents. What’s wrong with the prisoners that violated the law living in tents?” said Arpaio. “If [you, the prisoner] don’t like it, when you get out, be good, be a good citizen.”
In the place of Tent City, Arpaio’s successor, Paul Penzone, established a substance abuse counseling program for repeat offenders.
Arpaio lost the last mayoral race in Fountain Hills to incumbent Ginny Dickey. She hasn’t filed a statement of interest to run again. Apart from Arpaio, only two others have filed statements of interest: Fountain Hills councilman Gerry Friedel and local psychologist Robyn Marian.
Another councilman Allen Skillicorn — a former Illinois state representative who, last summer, had signaled interest in running for mayor — congratulated Arpaio on his obtaining enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.
— Allen Skillicorn ™ 🌵 🇺🇸 (@allenskillicorn) January 4, 2024
Skillicorn endorsed Arpaio last August.
“Joe Arpaio has been serving our town, state, and nation for years. I encourage all conservatives to join together and support the leader we know and trust.” – Allen Skillicorn Former sheriff Joe Arpaio announces run for Fountain Hills Mayor https://t.co/3G3cRH1HJK
— Allen Skillicorn ™ 🌵 🇺🇸 (@allenskillicorn) August 31, 2023
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
The former executive director of Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), Tomas Robles, threatened to have a journalist arrested for investigating an illegal immigrant transport center in Phoenix. Reportedly, Robles now works with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), an international nonprofit; Robles’ LinkedIn reflects that he currently works as a freelance political strategist and doesn’t list IRC.
In footage released on Wednesday, Robles confronted the journalist, James O’Keefe with O’Keefe Media Group (OMG). O’Keefe questioned Robles about an IRC colleague at the facility, Jesus Moreno, who had offered a bribe to O’Keefe to cease his investigation. Robles initially claimed he didn’t know Moreno, and accused O’Keefe of domestic terrorism.
“I know that you are harassing people here. I’m asking you to leave before I call the authorities,” said Robles. “I don’t deal with domestic terrorists like yourselves. […] You’re terrorizing people in a domestic country.”
Robles then claimed that O’Keefe directing his speech from a public sidewalk toward IRC’s private property and recording the interaction amounted to trespassing.
When O’Keefe again repeated that Moreno had attempted to bribe him, Robles challenged O’Keefe for proof of the bribe. O’Keefe captured the attempted bribe on camera.
Robles then called the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department on O’Keefe. In a later exchange via a phone call, Robles reversed course and seemed to admit he knew Moreno.
Robles accused O’Keefe and OMG of harassment for attempting to conduct a journalistic investigation and obtain comment from the center.
SECRET MIGRANT CENTER EXPOSED PART 1: “I’LL PAY YOU GUYS.” Phoenix Migrant ‘Refugee’ Facility worker caught on tape trying to bribe journalist.
Video shows facility run by International Rescue Committee @RESCUEorg bussing thousands of migrant “refugees” every hour on the hour… pic.twitter.com/BdIecQemhl
Prior to the IRC role, Robles served as LUCHA’s executive director for nearly a decade. Robles stepped down from that job in 2022.
LUCHA was founded in late 2009, its primary focus on opposing SB1070, a controversial 2010 illegal immigration law requiring law enforcement to ask for proof of citizenship during traffic stops. The Supreme Court upheld the law in 2012.
In addition to receiving a steady stream of funding from Arizona’s leftist dark money network, LUCHA was linked to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), a nonprofit busted by federal agents for registering illegal immigrants to vote.
Robles’ new gig at the illegal immigrant transport center — the Phoenix Welcome Center — was established by IRC in 2019.
The center serves as a rest stop for illegal immigrants on their way to other parts of the country by bus or plane. Per their latest available tax filing from 2021, the U.S. government gave IRC $415 million for its work.
On Wednesday, IRC’s U.S. communications director, Diana Santana, said in a statement to OMG that IRC was reviewing the incident with O’Keefe, Robles, and Moreno internally and with local authorities.
“We aim to create a workplace environment where people feel safe to carry out their work and interact with colleagues, external partners, and the public,” said Santana.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
65 Arizona educators and 23 certified in Arizona faced discipline relating to sexual misconduct with minors in 2023.
According to Arizona State Board of Education (ASBE) board meetings, 88 educators’ alleged and/or admitted behavior with minors resulted in their certificates being either revoked, suspended, or voluntarily surrendered, with two given letters of censure with conditions:
Deniz Akca (Cartwright Elementary School District)
Enrique Alvarez (Nogales Unified School District)
David Atzenweiler (certified in Arizona)
Felix Armenta (Gadsden Independent School District)
Keith Armstrong (Legacy Traditional School)
Joshua Bahen (certified in Arizona)
Darangelo Balark (Maya High School)
Samuel Bauman (Mesa Unified School District)
Brent Becenti (Florence Unified School District)
Steve Belles (Chandler Unified School District)
Lucas Bogard (Blue Adobe Project)
Ray Borges (Agua Fria Union High School District)
Wulfido Caday (certified in Arizona)
Christopher Carter (Tempe Union High School District)
James Conkle (certified in Arizona)
Gregory Boujikian (Phoenix Union High School District)
Scott Brockish (Arizona State University Preparatory Academy)
Nicholas Brozina (certified in Arizona)
Holly Craft (Agua Fria Union High School District)
Timothy Dargon (Mingus Union High School District)
Troy Davis (Tolleson Union High School District)
Melissa Didiana (certified in Arizona)
James Dillon (Yuma Union High School District)
Stephen Escudero (Prescott Unified School District)
Cody Fortune (certified in Arizona)
Irvin Garcia-Flores (Aqua Fria Union High School District)
Esmeralda Velasco-Guerrero
Walter Halaberda (Flagstaff Unified School District)
Douglas Hester (Phoenix Union High School District)
Robert Holland (Phoenix Union High School District)
Michael Hood (certified in Arizona)
Cheng-Hsuan Tsai (Tempe Montessori School)
Miles Huff (Payson Unified School District)
Michael Irving (certified in Arizona)
Nathan Jellicoe (Dysart Unified School District)
Antonio Jordan (Mesa Public Schools)
Cory Kapahulehua (Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center High School)
Jon Kizzia (Scottsdale Unified School District)
Daniel Scott Larsen (Winslow Unified School District)
Lou Lernor (ASU Preparatory Academy South Phoenix)
James Limones (Sunnyside Unified School District)
Mark Lindrud (certified in Arizona)
Salvador Lopez (Sunnyside Unified School District)
Mark Lucero (Douglas Unified School District)
Kelly Martin (Legacy Traditional School)
Shane Martin (Yuma Elementary District)
Lynn Matthews (certified in Arizona)
James Miller (Dysart Unified School District)
Michael Molina (Douglas Unified School District)
Marissa Montero (Chandler Unified School District)
Jalen Montgomery (Scottsdale Unified School District)
Elaine Mooneyham (Parker Unified School District)
Michael Naumann (Pendergast Elementary School District)
Gustavo Orellana (certified in Arizona)
Samantha Peer (Lake Havasu Unified School District)
Marvin Pacheco Villa (Western School of Science and Technology)
Zachary Parker (Phoenix Union High School District)
Eric Popely (certified in Arizona)
Jacob Ramirez (Paradise Valley Unified School District)
Jaron Rheinlander (Marana Unified School District, ASU Preparatory Academy)
Dylan Riddle (Vail Unified School District)
Todd Roatsey (certified in Arizona)
Celedonio Rodriguez (Flagstaff Unified School District)
Jessica Smith (Accelerated Learning Center, Phoenix Charter High School)
William Thorpe (Vail Unified School District)
Angel Torres (certified in Arizona)
Ryan Trerise (Glendale Preparatory Academy Great Hearts)
Clarence Walker III (certified in Arizona)
Justin Walters (Desert Garden Montessori School)
Christopher Walton (certified in Arizona)
Shawn Watson (certified in Arizona)
Colin White (Payson Unified School District)
Nathan Williams (certified in Arizona)
Sommer Wilson (Kyrene School District)
Brandon Wingert (Tanque Verde Unified School District)
Jorge Valencia (Flagstaff Unified School District)
Zobella Vinik (Tucson Unified School District)
Dante Yarborough (Mesa Unified School District)
William Yaw IV (certified in Arizona)
Blake Young (Maricopa Unified School District)
Jose Garcia Zepeda (Phoenix Union High School District)
Russell Zysett (certified in Arizona)
Some cases brought before ASBE await adjudication. Their case summaries cited inappropriate behavior with minors. Select portions of these cases are reproduced below:
Manual Gavina (Phoenix Elementary School District), teaching certificates suspended pending a public hearing and final decision of ASBE: “On or about December 10, 2019, officers from the Phoenix Police Department arrested Manuel Gavina for three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. Educator Gavina inappropriately touched several female students’ breasts and buttocks. Educator Gavina admitted to touching hundreds of female students’ breasts.”
Levi Jackson (certified in Arizona), teaching certificates suspended pending a public hearing and final decision of ASBE: “On or about October 4, 2022, Educator Jackson was arrested for five counts of Felony Sexual Abuse, 2 counts of Felony Lure Minor for Sexual Exploitation, 1 count of Felony Sexual Conduct with a Minor, and 19 counts of Misdemeanor Contribute to Delinquency of a Minor by officers from the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. Educator Jackson inappropriately touched his foreign exchange host student, Student A, over a period of several weeks. Educator Jackson touched Student’s A private area, gave Student A an inappropriate massage near Student A’s groin, asked to see Student A’s private area, discussed masturbation with Student A, and rubbed his own groin against Student A.”
Joanna Reyes (Sunnyside Unified School District), teaching certificates suspended pending a public hearing and final decision by ASBE: “Educator Reyes was involved in a romantic relationship with her former 5th grade student, Student A, who was twelve-years-old. This case was presented to the Pima County Attorney’s Office on February 13, 2023 for felony charges. The felony charges were declined. However, multiple misdemeanor charges of Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Nuisance will be filed with the Tucson City Court.” ASBE informedAZ Free News that her case is under review for appropriate next steps in the disciplinary process.
Jacob Williams (Yuma Union High School District, Somerton School District), teaching certificates suspended pending a public hearing and final decision of ASBE: “On or about October 6, 2022, officers from the Yuma Police Department arrested Jacob Ray Williams for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Educator Williams was ‘Snapchatting’ with a minor female student, requesting her to send naked pictures. Educator Williams sent pictures of his genitalia to this minor female student.”
ASBE meeting materials may be reviewed here. As per our previous reporting on this subject, some of the accused educators have denied the allegations against them.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
