Cochise County chief civil attorney fired after public indecency arrest

Update:  Paul
Correa, the now former Chief Civil Deputy County Attorney fired by
County Attorney Lori Zucco on Thursday, was booked into the county jail Thursday night on charges involving public sexual indecency and tampering with
evidence, the Sierra Vista Police Department announced.

According
to SVPD, officers were called to Target on Wednesday about a vehicle
blocking another vehicle in the parking lot. Officers were then told
that a male subject – who has now been identified as Correa – allegedly
followed a young girl inside the store while recording her with his
phone.

The girl’s
father later located Correa in the parking lot, and told officers he saw
the man watching a video of his daughter with his pants disheveled.

Correa’s personal and work phones were seized in the investigation and SVPD detectives sought a search warrant to examine them.

Then
just before 4 p.m. Thursday, Correa was taken into custody by SVPD  in
Benson following a high-risk traffic stop in coordination with the
Cochise County Sheriff’s Office. Correa was subsequently booked into the
county jail.

Anyone with any information pertaining to the investigation is asked to contact SVPD Det. Thomas Ransford at 520-452-7500.

Original article:
– Cochise County Attorney Lori Zucco announced Thursday that Paul
Correa, the head of her office’s civil division, has been terminated
following an investigation by the Sierra Vista Police Department into an
off-duty incident Correa was involved in at the Target store in Sierra
Vista on Wednesday.

Zucco
was informed Thursday morning about the allegations, which she does not
describe in her announcement of Correa’s firing. However, she notes she
met this afternoon with “the victims” as well as Sierra Vista Police
Department command staff and Sheriff Mark Dannels.

The
Herald/Review has confirmed Correa was not taken into custody
yesterday. Meanwhile, a SVPD spokesperson says the report related to
Correa’s conduct on Dec. 17 is not yet available.

According
to Zucco, the allegations in the case “are deeply disturbing,
particularly for an officer of the court and public employee entrusted
with the public’s confidence.”

“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,” she added, noting Correa’s termination reflects the seriousness
of the allegations and the obligation of her office to maintain the
highest professional and ethical standards.

“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 said.

Due
to various conflicts of interest, the ongoing criminal investigation
will be handled by La Paz County Attorney Rachel Shackelford by
arrangement through the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council.