56 Arizona Educators Face Discipline For Sexual Misconduct With Minors This Year

56 Arizona Educators Face Discipline For Sexual Misconduct With Minors This Year

by | Aug 31, 2023 | Education, News

By Corinne Murdock |  

56 Arizona educators and 22 certified in Arizona have faced discipline in relation to sexual misconduct with minors this year.

The Arizona State Board of Education (ASBE) provided us with a list of all adjudicated cases this year involving allegations of sexual misconduct. 56 educators’ cases involved minors, for which their certificates were either revoked, suspended, or voluntarily surrendered, with two given letters of censure with conditions; they are reproduced below. 

Those educators listed as “certified in Arizona,” signify that the alleged or actual misconduct didn’t occur in the state, but that they held teaching certificates in the state. 

  • Deniz Akca (Cartwright Elementary School District)
  • David Atzenweiler (certified in Arizona)
  • Felix Armenta (Gadsden Independent School District)
  • Joshua Bahen (certified in Arizona)
  • Steve Belles (Chandler Unified School District)
  • Lucas Bogard (Blue Adobe Project)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • Cheng-Hsuan Tsai (Tempe Montessori School)
  • Michael Irving (certified in Arizona)
  • Nathan Jellicoe (Dysart Unified School District)
  • Cory Kapahulehua (Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center High School)
  • Daniel Scott Larsen (Winslow Unified School District)
  • Mark Lindrud (certified in Arizona)
  • Kelly Martin (Legacy Traditional School)
  • Marissa Montero (Chandler Unified School District)
  • Elaine Mooneyham (Parker Unified School District)
  • Michael Naumann (Pendergast Elementary School District)
  • Samantha Peer (Lake Havasu Unified School District)
  • Marvin Pacheco Villa (Western School of Science and Technology)
  • Zachary Parker (Phoenix Union High School District) 
  • 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)
  • Eric Sapul (Altar Valley School District)
  • Andrea Schembre
  • Brandon Shinault (Adams Traditional Academy)
  • Joshua Silverthorn (certified in Arizona)
  • Scott Sims (Deer Valley Unified School District)
  • Jessica Smith (Accelerated Learning Center, Phoenix Charter High School)
  • William Thorpe (Vail Unified School District)
  • Angel Torres (certified in Arizona)
  • Clarence Walker III (certified in Arizona)
  • Christopher Walton (certified in Arizona)
  • Shawn Watson (certified in Arizona)
  • Colin White (Payson Unified School District)
  • Jorge Valencia (Flagstaff Unified School District)
  • Zobella Vinik (Tucson Unified School District)
  • Dante Yarborough (Mesa Unified School District)
  • Jose Garcia Zepeda (Phoenix Union High School District)
  • Russell Zysett (certified in Arizona)

AZ Free News reported recently on one of the educators prior to her sexual misconduct charges and resulting teaching certificate loss: Zobella Vinik. Last March, we reported on Vinik’s arrangement of her former high school’s first-ever drag show alongside a fellow school counselor who identified as a transgender man, Sunday Hamilton (formerly April Hamilton). A district spokeswoman told us at the time that not hosting the drag show would constitute gender expression discrimination.

Last May, Vinik was arrested for felony sexual conduct with a minor. Vinik voluntarily surrendered her teaching certificates last June. Vinik pled guilty to felony charges of sexual conduct with a minor and child abuse last month; she will be sentenced this month. 

There were educators listed in our original report that are before the ASBE but haven’t been adjudicated, with the first two cases below adjudicated just before the start of this year. Their case summaries on ASBE meeting documents cited inappropriate behavior with minors. Select portions of the 22 case summaries are reproduced below:

  • Shane Martin (Yuma Elementary District), teaching certificates voluntarily surrendered Nov. 10, 2022, case last considered in February: “On June 02, 2022, the Yuma Elementary District notified the Investigative Unit of allegations that Shane Martin engaged in inappropriate electronic communications with two previous 8th grade students via text messages. An example of the inappropriate comments included sleeping together, the use of drugs, and not using protection. The report further indicated the parents contacted our local police department. The result communicated was that there was no criminal activity that could be processed from the transcript shown. The district did their own investigation and concluded that Shane Martin had violated their policy and district expectations of communication between student and teacher.”
  • Christopher Carter (Tempe Union High School District) teaching certificates voluntarily surrendered Dec. 1, 2022, case last considered in February: “On November 14, 2022, the Human Resource Director of Educational Services LLC notified the Investigation Unit of the allegations that Christopher Carter:  exhibited predator behavior by physically assaulting students, helped underage students get drunk, shared time inappropriately with underage students, took underage ex-students to strip clubs and pursued sexual relations with ex-students when they turned 18 years of age.  These allegations of unprofessional and immoral conduct occurred in the 1990’s at Corona Del Sol High School, in the Tempe Union High School District.” 
  • Wulfido Jr. Devilleres Caday, teaching certificates suspended pending a public hearing and final decision of ASBE: “On or about January 27, 2023, Educator Caday was arrested for Luring a minor for sexual exploitation, and Attempted Sexual Conduct with a minor by officers from the Phoenix Police Department. Educator Caday was texting with an undercover police officer who Educator Caday believed to be a 15-year-old boy. Educator Caday wanted to engage in sexual intercourse with the minor child.”
  • 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.”
  • Lynn Matthews (certified in Arizona, taught in the state for 10 years before teaching in Utah), teaching certificates suspended through May 5, 2025: “[T]he Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission (“UPPAC”) […] found that Educator Matthews began communicating with 15-year old student BM sometime before March 11, 2020, and thereafter engaged in extensive communication via email over the next four weeks. The email conversations ranged from trivial subjects such as hair styles, plays and movies, and day-to-day activities to highly personal and intimate subjects such as rape, abuse, medical issues, and mental health.  In some communications, [Educator Matthews] used profanity.  [Educator Matthews] used terms of endearment toward BM and expressed love for her.  She treated BM as a confidant despite her young age sharing her own rape and subsequent pregnancy experience with BM. On April 10, 2020, Educator Matthews and BM exchanged four emails.  Educator Matthews stated in one. ‘I am totally not gay either but if JLO, Halle Berry, or Jennifer Aniston ever want to make out with me, they are going to get the best make out session of their lives!’ Educator Matthews also made the comment, ‘I find it quite funny that you pay for your own phone and then your mom controls it…that makes you a SUCKER!’”
  • Jalen Montgomery (Scottsdale Unified School District, Coronado High School), teaching certificates voluntarily surrendered: “On March 7, 2023, the Scottsdale Unified School District notified the Investigative Unit of the State Board of Education of allegations of unprofessional conduct and an improper relationship with a female student. Engaging in improper communication with the female student before and after school.  Coronado High School reported inappropriate boundaries.”
  • Gustavo Orellana (certified in Arizona), teaching certificates revoked: “On April 13, 2021, the Utah State Board of Education revoked Gustavo H. Orellana’s Level 1 Secondary Education License on a finding that he engaged in immoral conduct and unreasonable disciplinary action in violation of the code of ethics, and pled guilty to two counts of sexual battery of students.”
  • Eric Popely (certified in Arizona), teaching certificates revoked: “On or about January 27, 2021, Eric Popely plead guilty in the District Court of the Sixth Judicial District of the State of Idaho, in Bannock County of one count of Child Sexual Abuse by Causing or Having Sexual Contact with a Minor Under 16 years of age.  Eric Popely violated I.C. § 19-2413.  Eric Popelywas sentenced to up to fourteen years in custody for his conviction.”
  • 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 informed AZ Free News that her case is under review for appropriate next steps in the disciplinary process.
  • Justin Walters (Desert Garden Montessori School), teaching certificates revoked: “On or about April 14, 2022, Justin Walters plead guilty in the Maricopa County Superior Court of one count of Sexual Conduct with a Minor – position of trust, committed on June 1, 2019 through and including December 23, 2020.  Justin Walters also plead[ed] guilty to two counts of Attempt to Commit Sexual Conduct with a Minor – position of trust, committed on October 31, 2019 through and including November 1, 2019, and January 18, 2020 through and including January 19, 2020.  Justin Walters violated A.R.S. §§ 13-1401, 13-1405, 13-3821, 13-610, 13-702, 13-801, and 13-1001.  He was sentenced to four years in prison and lifetime supervised probation with all sex offender and computer usage terms, and he must register as a sex offender.”
  • 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.”
  • Nathan Williams (certified in Arizona), teaching certificates recommended for revocation, “On December 8, 2022, the Alabama State Department of Education revoked Nathan Jay Williams’s Alabama Professional Educator Certificate on a finding that he engaged in immoral conduct and unreasonable disciplinary action in violation of the code of ethics, and he was arrested on two counts of Child Solicitation by Computer-Electronic Solicitation of a Child and two counts of Traveling to meet a child for an Unlawful Sex Act.”
  • Blake Young (Maricopa Unified School District), teaching certificates voluntarily surrendered: “On February 22, 2023, the Maricopa Unified School District notified the Investigative Unit of allegations that Educator Young engaged in inappropriate and unprofessional conduct with a female student, including inappropriate text messages that were sexual in nature.”
  • Juan Jaimes (certified in Arizona), teaching certificates revoked: “During the 2005-2006 school year, student A was enrolled in Mr. Jaimes’ class. In January 2006, Student A turned 18-years-old. During the summer of 2006 between Student A’s junior and senior year of high school, Mr. Jaimes began a dating relationship with Student A. Their relationship became intimate and sexual in nature. Student A wanted to get married, but Mr. Jaimes could not because his divorce was not processed yet. From 2006 through 2007, Mr. Jaimes continued to engage in an inappropriate sexual relationship with Student A. In October 2006, Student A became pregnant with Mr. Jaimes’ child. Student A carried the pregnancy throughout her senior year of high school before giving birth in June 2007. Before the child was born, Mr. Jaimes and Student A ended their relationship. After the child was born, Mr. Jaimes paid $700.00 a month in child support. After a seven-year break-up, Mr. Jaimes and Student A reinitiated their relationship at the end of 2014. They were married in March 2015.”
  • James Limones (Sunnyside Unified School District), teaching certificates voluntarily surrendered: “On May 16, 2023, the Sunnyside Unified School District notified the Investigative unit of the allegations that Educator Limones had raped a female who was a minor and was placed on probation for 12 years.” ASBE further informed AZ Free News that Limones entered a plea deal on Sept. 14, 2021 for sexual assault, and that his case will be presented to the board at a future meeting for a revocation.
  • Mark Lucero (Douglas Unified School District), teaching certificates voluntarily surrendered: “On June 13, 2023, the Douglas Unified School District notified the Investigative Unit of theallegations.  Educator Mark Lucero began “following” a female student on social media, liking her pictures and messaging her. Lucero asked the student what she thought if a grown man asked a younger girl out for coffee. The student would later open her school binder and find a picture of a coffee cup with a heart inside.”
  • James Miller (Dysart Unified School District), teaching certificates voluntarily surrendered: “[R]eport indicated that Miller was texting a female student multiple times between February 25, 2022 and February 14, 2023. The Surprise Police Department was notified and the police report revealed the following: ‘At approximately 0800 hours on February 17, 2023, while on duty as Willow Canyon High School’s SRO, I was summoned to Principal Adam Schwartz’s office for a meeting in reference to what is generally described to me as a “Grooming” case. After receiving the 27 photos containing text messages between Educator Miller and Student, I observed profanities, the offer of a one on one meeting for lunch separate from other students of campus initiated by Miller and references to Student’s physical state and “Beautiful” and “cutie”. Although “inappropriate” and against district policy as well as ARS 15-203(A)(44) which establishes “best practices” for cellular use between school employees and students, I found no grounds for criminal charging. All parties listed above, except for Miller, were advised concerning the criminal aspect of my findings. Nothing further at this time.”
  • Michael Molina (Douglas Unified School District), teaching certificates voluntarily surrendered: “On June 14, 2023, the Douglas Unified School District notified the Investigative Unit of allegations that Educator Molina engaged in unprofessional conduct with students. Educator Molina had a challenge activity where he would play a ping-pong game in class with the students. If Educator Molina would make the ball into the cup, he would have students kiss each other or kiss him on the cheek.”
  • Humberto Sauceda (certified in Arizona), teaching certificates voluntarily surrendered: “On May 4, 2023, Educational Services LLC notified the Investigative Unit of allegations that Educator Sauceda engaged in inappropriate communications with a minor student by sending her multiple handwritten letters and text messages in violation of district policy. In one letter, Sauceda admitted to having “feelings” for the student because he was alone and had no one. No police report was prepared in regard to these allegations.”
  • Ryan Trerise (Glendale Preparatory Academy Great Hearts), teaching certificates voluntarily surrendered: “On April 6, 2023, the Glendale Preparatory Academy Great Hearts notified the Investigative Unit of allegations that Subject Ryan Trerise #601-4467 engaged in inappropriate communications with a student that included inappropriate boundaries by sharing personal information about his sexual experiences when he was 14 years old, questioning the student about her sex life, and talking to the student about portions of the Bible that relate to sex.”
  • Alfredo Vidal-Rojas (Roosevelt Elementary School District), teaching certificates voluntarily surrendered: “On May 11, 2023, the Roosevelt Elementary School District notified the Investigative Unit of the allegation that Alfredo Vidal Rojas had improper social media communication with an 8th grade female student from Ed and Verma Pastor Elementary School. This information was not reported to any police department, nor was there a report made.” 

ASBE also shared their process for investigations and procedures following allegations of sexual misconduct by educators with AZ Free News. Upon receiving any reports or allegations of misconduct, ASBE’s Investigative Unit issues a notice of investigation to the accused (called the “respondent”) outlining the allegations, possible violations of rule or statute, and advisement of the option for the accused to participate in the investigation, voluntarily surrender their certificates or right to work in an Arizona District or Charter school or do nothing.

In the case of voluntary surrenders of teaching certificates, the board will still hear the case at its next scheduled meeting. The board meeting summary of the case will include the original allegation information as well as any available supporting documents about the educator’s conduct. 

“Investigators conduct and complete a thorough investigation,” stated ASBE. “Completed investigations are then reviewed for best next steps and if it is determined that disciplinary action is warranted, the case is scheduled for the appropriate action.” 

ASBE did note that individuals may plea to or be found guilty of a lesser charge from the charge originally reported to their Investigative Unit; however, that doesn’t change the information included in the unit’s investigation or summary to the board.

ASBE meeting materials may be reviewed here. 

Note: 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.

Rep. Cook Calls On ADOT To Address MVD Third-Party Service Provider Issues

Rep. Cook Calls On ADOT To Address MVD Third-Party Service Provider Issues

by | Aug 31, 2023 | News

By Daniel Stefanski |

A legislator is speaking out and demanding action just days after the release of a concerning report from Arizona’s Auditor General about the Arizona Department of Transportation’s oversight of Motor Vehicle Division’s third-party service providers.

On Monday, Republican Representative David Cook, who is the Chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, transmitted a letter to Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Director Jennifer Toth, outlining his fears over the issues raised by the Auditor General’s report and demanding action to address the matters.

In a statement that accompanied the release of his letter, Cook said, “When state agencies outsource their important government functions to third parties, and those third parties fail to meet their legal obligations and are not properly supervised as required by law, Arizonans suffer the consequences. In this instance, those consequences are particularly severe and threaten the public safety.”

Chairman Cook, in his letter to Director Toth, expressed alarm over the report that was published last week by the state’s Auditor General, who found that the “Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) failed to ensure authorized third party companies consistently issued vehicle title, driver licenses, and identification cards only to qualified or authorized individuals and entitles, increasing public safety risks such as unsafe drivers, vehicle and identity theft, fraud, and terrorism.”

The lawmaker noted his appreciation that the Department “agrees with the Auditor General’s findings and plans to implement all the recommendations.” Yet Cook was unwilling to allow ADOT to fall back into its shortcomings over a lack of oversight, stating his belief that “it is imperative that you exercise your statutory authority to take immediate remedial action to prevent an increase in the public safety risks that the Auditor General has already identified.”

Cook highlighted that ADOT’s proposed changes to the Auditor General’s findings were “drafted and are in the pilot phase,” pointing out that “it does not appear that MVD made any significant process during the six months following the Auditor General’s audit.” He asked Director Toth why MVD “hasn’t simply adopted its previous oversight procedures that were consistent with the Auditor General’s 2015 recommendations.”

The Chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee didn’t hold back his feelings, writing that “these astonishing results are unacceptable and require an immediate response.” He requested that ADOT “(1) suspend or cancel the authorization of the three third-parties deemed ‘high-risk’ in the Auditor General’s report; (2) direct your Office of Inspector General and/or another appropriate division in your office to investigate all third party companies for compliance with A.R.S. Title 28, Chapter 13, article 1; (3) rescind the defective quality assurance process adopted by MVD in February 2022; and (4) immediately implement a revised oversight process per the Auditor General’s recommendations.”

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.

64-Year-Old Man Given 2.5 Years For Threats To Maricopa Official, Former AG

64-Year-Old Man Given 2.5 Years For Threats To Maricopa Official, Former AG

by | Aug 31, 2023 | News

By Corinne Murdock |

On Monday, a federal judge sentenced 64-year-old Mark Rissi to 2.5 years in prison for threats made to a Maricopa County election official and the former attorney general.

Rissi, an Iowa native, issued two separate threats in late 2021 to Maricopa County Board of Supervisors member Clint Hickman and former Attorney General Mark Brnovich. Rissi pleaded guilty to two counts of sending a threatening interstate communication. 

Rissi told Hickman in a September 2021 voicemail that he would “lynch” him, and that he was going to die by hanging; months later, Rissi told Brnovich in a December 2021 voicemail that he would hang him as well. Rissi made it clear in both voicemails that he was dissatisfied by how both men were responding to allegations of the theft of the 2020 election from former President Donald Trump.

The DOJ arrested Rissi last October. 

Rissi testified that he made the threats while under the influence of sleeping and pain medications he’d taken to mitigate his depression over his mother’s death, which he blamed on the COVID-19 vaccine, and the influence of misinformation regarding the elections process in Arizona. Rissi asked for forgiveness.

Arizona District Judge Dominic Lanza, a Trump appointee and longtime Federalist Society member, handed down Rissi’s sentence. Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys Tanya Senanayake and Sean Lokey prosecuted the case, representing Hickman and Brnovich. 

Senanayake has been with the DOJ since 2020 and, prior to that, served as a Federal Election Commission attorney for five years. In 2022, Lokey was named Arizona’s district election officer to oversee election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats, and fraud.

In remarks to the judge, Senanayake said Rissi’s speech represented “threats to democracy.” Senanayake asked for 24 months in prison.

In a statement presented to the court by Senanayake, Brnovich asked for Rissi to be held accountable. 

Hickman claimed in an interview with the “Mike Broomhead Show” on KTAR News that he petitioned for a lesser sentence for Rissi. Hickman also claimed that Lanza said he needed to make an example of Rissi.

“I gave the judge the ability to offer mercy and compassion for a guy that should not be spending maybe some of his last years on this earth in a jail cell,” said Hickman. “And I asked for compassion and mercy. The judge heard that and then the judge said, ‘Listen, we have to prove a point. This is the judicial system and punishment needs to be meted out.’”

In a press release, DOJ Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole Argentieri warned that threats to election officials will be met with significant punishment. 

“This sentence makes clear that individuals who illegally threaten election officials and others associated with the electoral process will face meaningful penalties,” said Argentieri. “The Justice Department will diligently investigate and prosecute attempts to illegally threaten, intimidate, and coerce the individuals administering the nation’s free and fair elections.”

Rissi’s case was one of the many under investigation by the DOJ’s Election Threats Task Force. According to a meeting from one year ago, the DOJ was investigating around over 100 cases out of over 1,000 they reviewed. 

The DOJ launched the task force in July 2021 under Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. 

Monaco served as Homeland Security Advisor, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division under former President Barack Obama.

Monaco has worked in the upper ranks of every Democratic presidential administration since former President Bill Clinton. Monaco has served as a research coordinator for the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired at the time by now-President Joe Biden, working on the Violence Against Women Act; legal intern for the White House Counsel’s Office and then counsel to former Attorney General Janet Reno under former President Bill Clinton.

Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.

Arizona Senator’s Father In Critical Condition After Deadly Plane Malfunction

Arizona Senator’s Father In Critical Condition After Deadly Plane Malfunction

by | Aug 30, 2023 | News

By Corinne Murdock |

The father of State Sen. J.D. Mesnard (R-LD13), Daniel Mesnard, remains in critical condition after his twin-engine plane malfunctioned and crashed in Georgia. 

The crash paralyzed the elder Mesnard from the waist down. His passenger and longtime friend, Timothy Fiser, died from his injuries despite initial reports reflecting his condition as stable. The crashed plane was a Velocity Twin model certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last November. 

On Monday, the senator issued a statement that his father remains critically injured and in need of funding to recover the plane. Without recovering the plane, the FAA won’t be able to complete its investigation to determine the malfunction that caused the plane to crash. The senator petitioned for financial aid through GoFundMe.

“The longer the plane sits there in the marsh the more it disintegrates and the prospect of losing the data contained in the plane and engines becomes very real,” said Mesnard.

The elder Mesnard had served as a pilot for decades: 21 years as an Air Force fighter pilot, 35 years as a commercial pilot for Delta Airlines, and owner of a charter plane business for the last three years. 

According to Sen. Mesnard, his father prevented the plane from flipping by pulling a “fighter pilot manuever” to regain control, and then directed the plane to crash-land into the bank of a marsh in a tree clearing rather than the surrounding forest to avoid a potential fuel tank explosion. 

The senator also relayed that the plane ejected his father and Fisher despite both wearing seatbelts. The younger Mesnard thanked those first responders who braved the marsh to rescue his father and family friend. 

“We are so grateful for their herculean efforts to get to my dad and Tim – including wading through waist-deep mud and ignoring the prospect of snakes and alligators,” said Mesnard. 

About 15 minutes before crashing, the elder Mesnard had stopped at the Kaolin Field Airport in Sandersville, Georgia to refuel. 

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), obtained by WDRW, revealed that a Kaolin Field Airport mechanic had cleared the plane for flight a day before and the day of the crash. Also according to the report, a local police officer heard the plane “change pitch” mid-flight before “banking right” and “descend[ing] quickly.” 

As of that report obtained last week, the FAA and NTSB were going to investigate. According to Sen. Mesnard, the FAA hasn’t been able to get access to the plane due to its remote location and difficult terrain. 

The Mesnards require $23,000 to recover the plane and conduct an investigation. As of press time, the GoFundMe has raised over $14,000.

Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.

Arizona Freedom Caucus Huddles With Trump To Discuss “Strategic Investments”

Arizona Freedom Caucus Huddles With Trump To Discuss “Strategic Investments”

by | Aug 30, 2023 | News

By Daniel Stefanski |

Members of Arizona’s Freedom Caucus are gearing up for the 2024 Presidential Election in the Grand Canyon State.

Earlier this month, members of the Caucus participated in a conference call with former President – and current candidate for the Republican nomination – Donald J. Trump.

The Twitter account for the legislative group posted, “The Arizona Freedom Caucus met with President Trump yesterday to discuss the immediate need for strategic investments from his campaign into Arizona. He must build the GOTV & ballot chase infrastructure necessary for 2024 – and he must build it now.”

Senator Jake Hoffman, the chairman of the caucus, took part in the national call and had the opportunity to ask a two-part question of Trump. Hoffman asked the former President if he would “commit to declassifying everything to expose the Democrats and UniParty to the American people,” and if there would be an expectation to “see investments from your campaign specifically designated for building out a robust ground game and ballot-chasing operation in our state.”

Hoffman informed Trump on the call that “Democrats are already investing heavily in Arizona to build their electoral infrastructure and ground game for 2024,” and exhorted the former Commander in Chief to match those efforts immediately in the Grand Canyon State before it becomes too late.

A source with knowledge of the call told AZ Free News that Trump committed to the Arizona Freedom Caucus and the more than one hundred conservative legislators on the call that, when elected president again, he would declassify all of the documents showing the Democrats’ “pervasive and methodical plan to erode individual liberty and cripple American exceptionalism.”

The source also highlighted that “as one of the three most important states needed to win the 2024 election, members of the Arizona Freedom Caucus felt it was imperative to make the President aware of the millions being invested in our state by the Democrats, and the $30 million or more that will need to be invested by Republicans, specifically the presidential nominee, to win this state.”

Representative Austin Smith, who was also on the call, told AZ Free News that “we discussed the immediate need for strategic investment from his campaign to Arizona.” Smith added, “(Trump) must build the GOTV, early vote and ballot chasing infrastructure necessary for 2024, and he must do it now. Not after the primary. It will not matter who the nominee is, though I believe it will be Trump. We need the investment here now in Arizona in order to win.”

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.

Glendale City Council Takes Action To Eliminate Vote On VAI Resort Project

Glendale City Council Takes Action To Eliminate Vote On VAI Resort Project

by | Aug 30, 2023 | News

By Daniel Stefanski |

Glendale voters will have one less issue to work through on an upcoming ballot after the City Council took action on some details for the development of an up-and-coming resort.

Last week, the Glendale City Council responded to a forthcoming referendum orchestrated by Worker Power Institute, negating the opportunity for the City’s and VAI Resort and Mattel Adventure Park’s Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET) arrangements to be sent to a future ballot. The Council unanimously repealed its action on June 13, 2023, which had directed the City Manager to enter into the amended and restated development agreement.  The June 2023 action from the council led to the efforts by Worker Power Institute to gather referendum signatures.

Michael Bailey, the City Attorney, noted that there were no surprises for the public throughout the entirety of this process with the developers of this resort, adding that the agreement in September 2020 had no public opposition. He specifically highlighted that no public groups spoke out against the Council’s actions when much of the work was done on executing this agreement.

Vice Mayor Joyce Clark agreed with Bailey’s comments and was more direct in her assessment of the situation at hand. Clark expressed suspicion with the motives of Worker Power in bringing this referendum to the doorstep of the Council, while repeatedly endorsing the project. She stated that the arrangement between Glendale and VAI Resorts would bring over 1,200 jobs to the community and infuse $10 million in sale tax revenue for the general fund, which would give much-needed financial support to essential municipal services.

Councilmember Jamie Aldama, however, took issue with some of Bailey’s words, arguing that just because there was no opposition in 2020 to this project or because there was a public meeting, constituents still may not have known about the significance or consequences of this issue. He exhorted the Council to do a better job at getting the word out to people about more of these issues and pleaded with citizens to stay engaged and involved in the process.

Worker Power Institute released the following statement after the Council’s vote: “Today, Glendale City Council repealed their June 13th decision to approve a new development agreement for the VAI Resort project. Worker Power Institute canvassers spoke with thousands of Glendale voters who expressed numerous concerns over the 25-year property tax breaks and significant changes in the updated development agreement. One of these changes, the open-air amphitheater with over 100 live events per year, greatly worried Glendale residents due to the traffic and noise such a venue would bring. Our understanding is that today’s vote to repeal the new development agreement would alleviate this particular concern as the open-air amphitheater is no longer covered. While residents still have many concerns surrounding the project, we feel tonight was a good first step.”

The President and CEO of VAI Global Development, Grant Fischer, addressed the Council’s action in a statement to a local media outlet, saying, “We appreciate the city of Glendale’s continued support for VAI Resort, and we are excited for the project to move forward on track with the city’s partnership. Apart from the financial benefits VAI Resort will bring to the city of Glendale, VAI will be among the largest employers in the state, with hundreds of jobs created for the construction of the project and more than 1,800 full time positions for the resort. As an Arizona native, I am personally so proud to create this legacy in my home state that will positively impact the community and residents.”

The Council’s action last week does not affect the original contract with the developers, but it does repeal the amendment from June 2023. A point was raised during discussion of this action that the original arrangement between the City and the developers could not be affected.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.