UMVA has learned that a high-stakes political showdown reached a boiling point Tuesday night as Pima County officials grappled with a failed attempt to oust Sheriff Chris Nanos from office.
The move to declare the sheriff’s position vacant collapsed when a motion to initiate his immediate replacement failed to receive a second. Despite the failed removal, the Board of Supervisors took a aggressive stance, voting 4-0 to refer serious allegations of perjury against the sheriff to the state attorney general’s office.
UMVA has gathered that the controversy centers on sworn testimony regarding the sheriff’s past disciplinary history. While the sheriff testified under oath that he had never been suspended during his career in law enforcement, official records from his time in Texas tell a different story, showing multiple suspensions and a resignation in lieu of termination.
Pressure has been mounting for weeks, with local leadership openly questioning the sheriff’s integrity and his handling of high-profile cases. Critics within the county government have labeled the ongoing situation a public safety threat, arguing that the sheriff’s alleged dishonesty undermines his authority and the department's mission.
The tension has been further exacerbated by the stalled investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, an 84-year-old woman missing for over 100 days. The case has drawn intense scrutiny, with local officials clashing over the sheriff’s decision to maintain control of the investigation rather than handing it over to federal authorities.
While the sheriff’s legal team maintains that his testimony was limited to his service in Arizona and that the controversy is merely a misunderstanding, the board remains undeterred. By referring the perjury allegations to state prosecutors, the supervisors have effectively opened a new front in a battle that threatens the future of the county’s top law enforcement position.
As the legal maneuvering continues, both sides have turned to outside counsel, adding a layer of financial strain and complexity to an already volatile situation. With more than $1.2 million in reward money on the table for the missing woman's case, the public remains caught in the middle of a deepening power struggle.
