http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/23689.php

Published: 08.23.2006
Sex assault suspect wanted in Mexico killing
HEIDI ROWLEY
Tucson Citizen



A man wanted for a homicide in Mexico was arrested Monday in connection with a sexual assault that also has ties to a March Tucson homicide.

Tucson police Sgt. Decio Hopffer said Omar Navarro Amavisca, 31, of the 9100 block of South Nogales Highway, has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault, kidnapping, first degree burglary and armed robbery. He is being held on $500,000 bail.

On March 11 Amavisca, along with three other men, allegedly entered an apartment in the 4300 block of East 29th Street with the intention of stealing drugs and money, Hopffer said.

They proceeded to sexually assault two of the three women who were in the apartment, he said. Afterward, in the parking lot of the apartment complex, Hopffer said the four men began to argue. That is when police believe Oscar Ruiz-Baca, 26, shot and killed Randolfo Navarro-Amavrea, 35. Ruiz-Baca was arrested that night and is in the Pima County Jail charged with first-degree murder. During the investigation, Hopffer said detectives learned of the sexual assault and that the two incidents were connected.

Police said the fourth man in the group, Jesus Sahueri Felix, 20, was arrested several weeks later and has been charged with sexual assault, kidnapping, first-degree burglary and armed robbery. He is being held in the Pima County Jail on $200,000 bail. It is unclear whether Ruiz-Baca, who is in the Pima County Jail on $1 million bail, will also be charged with the assaults and robbery.

According to Mexican prosecutors in Sonora, Amavisca had been on the run for the last six years. They did not elaborate on the homicide charge. Hopffer said that once Amavisca has gone through the court process for his charges in Tucson, he will be extradited to Mexico on the homicide charge.