Illegal immigrant accused of VA rape has troubling criminal history

The illegal migrant arrested last week on rape charges in Virginia has a lengthy criminal record that includes nearly 30 run-ins with police over sex crimes and assaults — but was repeatedly slapped on the wrist rather than deported, The Post has learned.

Denis Humberto Navarette Romero, 31, has been a threat since 2017 and has 29 encounters with police to his name, ranging from minor drug offenses to a disturbing array of perverse crimes such as indecent exposure, public nudity and masturbation and sexual assault, sources say in law enforcement. .

The Honduran migrant was arrested last week for allegedly raping a woman on a hiking trail just outside DC – just four days after being released from prison for indecent exposure. In that case, he was released early after serving only half of his 50-day prison sentence due to “good behavior,” authorities said.

During his first known contact with police in 2017, a 14-year-old reported that Navarette Romero fondled and exposed herself to her nieces, who were 10 and 13 years old at the time – but the family refused to press charges and resisted authorities. ‘ is trying to investigate, according to police reports.

In 2022, he engaged in a spate of perverse behavior in and around Washington’s National Mall, including telling police he wanted to die by “suicide by cop,” entering a restricted area of ​​the White House and skinny dipping in the water fountain at the National Museum of American Indian History, sources said.

In June of that year, he punched a woman on the buttocks at a restaurant, then tried to choke one officer and punch another officer in the face, records show. He spent eight days in jail before going on the rampage again the following month with simple assault, trespassing, smoking marijuana and drinking in public.

Records show he served another six months in jail until January 2023 and was arrested again months later in June for allegedly drunkenly urinating on the World War II Memorial in DC.

He would go on to commit further acts of indecent exposure and sexual assault until he was finally charged with rape and kidnapping on November 14. That’s just four days after he was released early from prison, where he was serving a half-day sentence for exposing himself. to a woman walking her dog.

An attorney for the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office told The Post that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is notified every time an illegal migrant is admitted to their adult detention center — four times in the case of Navarette Romero — but that a warrant or arrest warrant from the agency was issued. never published.

When contacted by The Post, ICE would not confirm or deny that report from the county sheriff’s office, or whether they were aware of Navarette Romero’s illegal status.

Now Virginia officials like Gov. Glenn Youngkin are pointing the finger at ultra-liberal Fairfax County for being soft on immigrant crime and refusing to cooperate with immigration authorities on even dangerous repeat offenders among its “Confidentiality policy‘, effectively turning it into a sanctuary.

Youngkin (R-Va.) said the county has made law-abiding citizens less safe.

“I am heartbroken for this victim and outraged that local Fairfax County officials are recklessly releasing violent illegal immigrants who should have been prosecuted and deported,” the Republican governor told The Post Sunday.

“This is a violation of their most fundamental duty to protect people. It is unacceptable to prioritize violent illegal immigrants over the safety of Fairfax residents.”

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares blamed Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano.

“Steve Descano both owes his community an apology and because of his continued missteps and failures, he also owes them his resignation,” Miyares told The Post.

Descano prosecuted a case involving Navarette Romero in 2022, when he was accused of assaulting a Herndon police officer. Descano argued that the charge amounted to a misdemeanor — without any input from Herndon police.

“This was a violent act of rape that was completely preventable. Shame on those who choose opportunism and politics over public safety and integrity. Fairfax County deserves to have prosecutors who protect their interests, not a group of social workers who shelter criminals,” Miyares added.

Descano’s spokesperson Laura Birnbaum stood by Descano’s handling of Navarette Romero’s case, telling The Post that “he was prosecuted, convicted of charges that reflect the facts of the case and had served his time.”

A spokesperson for ICE’s DC Enforcement and Removal Operations office said the agency had interviewed the accused rapist and released a detainee — more than a week after the crime occurred.

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations interviewed Denis Humberto Navarrete-Romero, 31, an illegally present Honduran national, on November 26,” the agency said Tuesday.

“On the same day, ICE ERO placed an immigration detainer at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center in Fairfax, Virginia. Navarrete entered the United States on an unknown date at an unknown location and without authorization from an immigration officer,” the statement said.

Navarette Romero is being held in the Fairfax County Jail pending a hearing on March 5. His attorney, Thomas F. Koerner, declined The Post’s request for comment.

Additional reporting by Jennie Taer