Jeffrey York has been charged with four counts of molestation of a child and five counts of sexual conduct with a minor. He is being held in Greenlee County Jail on a $1 million bond.
Suspect faces additional charges in Alaska
By Jon Johnson
MORENCI – A Morenci man has been arrested and jailed on the accusation that he systematically molested a young girl for years, starting prior to the child turning 8 years old.
Jeffrey L. York, 61, of Morenci, was arrested on March 22 and booked into the Greenlee County Jail on four counts of molestation of a child and five counts of sexual conduct with a minor. He is being held on a $1 million bond.
The case against York began when an Alaskan trooper contacted local Greenlee authorities regarding York having inappropriate behavior with children who previously lived in Greenlee County but now lived in Alaska. A couple of months afterward, local authorities were given a copy of an audio transcript in which York was confronted about the crimes.
In the phone call, York admits sexually abusing the child and said he believed he was “helping (her) cope with things” because sex can be “one hell of a stress reliever.”
Investigators also interviewed the victim, who described the various instances and actions performed by York and when and where they happened.
When interviewed, York denied the allegations and said he believed it was a ploy by his wife to send him to jail so she could collect his retirement.
York was then arrested and booked on the various sex charges listed above. He has been appointed Daisy Flores as his public defender, and the case is currently in Clifton Justice Court until a preliminary hearing (PH) is either held or waived. At a PH, the Justice of the Peace weighs the evidence to see if there is enough to move forward with the case to Superior Court or not. In Graham and Greenlee counties, in cases such as these, more often than not the PH is generally waived and the case is then bound over to Superior Court for arraignment and eventual adjudication.
In addition to the Arizona charges, the Alaskan trooper advised York is also facing charges in Alaska as well.
