El Paso Sheriff’s Office arrests County Parks Manager for alleged theft of thousands of dollars

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has arrested former County Parks Manager Reynaldo “Rey” Chavez .

Chavez has been charged with theft of over $20,000 but under $100,000 by a public servant.

Sheriff’s officials say that while investigating a different case that anomalies were discovered in the cash transactions from the rentals of the softball fields at Ascarate Park allegedly involving Chavez that were not entered into the County’s software system for accepting fees.

Sheriff’s officials say that further investigation revealed Chavez had allegedly not deposited thousands of dollars in rental fees he collected from a softball league into the County’s bank accounts, which was verified by the County Auditor’s office.

Chavez was placed on administrative leave in early January after sheriff’s deputies charged Mayra Navarrete, an account clerk, with 24 counts of forgery. The County fired Chavez on Jan. 15.

County officials said last month that Navarrete is suspected of stealing from the parking fees paid by those attending events at Ascarate Park.

Navarrete was an account clerk in charge of cash count documents

According to Navarrete’s arrest affidavit, Navarrete admitted to altering the sheets and forging the names on the sheets so it looked like someone else prepared those documents.

Chavez and County Special Events Coordinator Steve Lazarin were placed on administrative leave in connection to the Navarrete case.