Cochise County Attorney Fired After Public Indecency Incident at Sierra Vista Target

On Thursday, Cochise County officials fired one of its attorneys, Paul Correa, after a public sexual indecency incident at the Target in Sierra Vista late Wednesday.

Cochise County Attorney Lori Zucco announced the immediate termination of Correa, Chief Civil Deputy County Attorney, following an investigation by the Sierra Vista Police Department

According to the Sierra Vista Police Department, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at about 6:20 p.m., SVPD officers responded to the Target in the 4100 block of E. Highway 90 after an employee from the store called 911 and reported a vehicle blocking another vehicle in the parking lot.

While investigating the incident, officers learned that a male subject allegedly followed a juvenile female while inside the store and recorded her with his phone. Afterwards, the juvenile’s father located the subject in the parking lot. The juvenile’s father reported that he saw the male suspect watching a video of his daughter with his pants disheveled.
The suspect’s personal and work phones were seized in the investigation and SVPD detectives sought a search warrant to examine them.

Then on Thursday, Dec. 18, at about 3:45 p.m., the suspect was arrested by SVPD in coordination with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office during a high-risk traffic stop in Benson. The suspect was charged with evidence tampering and public sexual indecency and booked into the Cochise County Jail.

Due to conflicts of interest, the case is being handled by La Paz County Attorney Rachel Shackelford. Conflict counsel was arranged by Elizabeth Ortiz, the Executive Director of the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council, APAAC.

After being informed of the nature of the allegations and meeting with Sierra Vista Police Department, Zucco made the decision to terminate Correa’s employment immediately. She also met with the victims, Sierra Vista Police Department Command staff, and Sheriff Mark Dannels, prior to Correa’s termination.

“The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing, particularly for an officer of the court and public employee entrusted with the public’s confidence, “Zucco said. “As a career prosecutor for more than 20 years, I have zero tolerance for alleged conduct that so fundamentally violates the standards of this office. While Mr. Correa is entitled to due process in the criminal justice system, he can no longer serve in any capacity in my office.”

Zucco noted the termination is an employment decision and is separate from the ongoing criminal investigation which will be handled independently by the La Paz County Attorney’s Office.