Mexican illegal immigrant Carlos Nava withdraws plea deal with Nevada facing rape charges

Carlos Nava, a Mexican national accused of serial rape and tied to as many as 17 victims in Nevada, has made a surprising decision to withdraw his plea deal, prompting prosecutors to reinstate multiple charges against him. The 49-year-old has been implicated in a series of violent sexual assaults that span nearly two decades, despite being deported from the US at least eight times since 2002.

Nava, who re-entered the country illegally multiple times, was last deported in 2020, even after prior removals and arrests for battery and domestic violence. His recent plea deal, known as an Alford plea, saw him acknowledge one felony count of sexual assault with the use of a deadly weapon without admitting guilt. This agreement resulted in the dismissal of eight other charges against him.

However, Nava’s unexpected decision to withdraw the plea deal on the day of his scheduled sentencing led to prosecutors reinstating the dropped charges. According to Clark County Deputy District Attorney Julia Barker, Nava may be linked to as many as 17 assaults, with DNA evidence implicating him in the crimes. Six victims have been identified, while 11 remain unknown, including two minors at the time of the assaults.

Police discovered 17 pairs of women’s underwear in a backpack belonging to Nava, along with latex gloves and other items, suggesting a disturbing pattern of behavior. Las Vegas police documents indicate that officers were actively searching for additional assault victims in 2022, and Nava was even spotted in a white Ford truck following one incident.

Nava is currently in custody at the Clark County Detention Center, with a new trial date expected to be scheduled after his next court appearance on October 9. The case has raised concerns about the repeated re-entry of illegal immigrants with criminal histories into the United States, despite multiple deportations and arrests. The Clark County District Attorney’s Office is yet to provide further information on the ongoing investigation.