Ex-county CFO charged in child sex case

Prosecutors from the Yuma County Attorneys Office filed charges Tuesday afternoon against the county's former chief financial officer who allegedly had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 15-year-old autistic boy.

Appearing in Yuma Justice Court for his arraignment, Scott Holt, 69, was informed by Justice of the Peace Greg Stewart that a criminal complaint had been filed against him, charging him with three felony offenses.

Stewart told Holt, who is out of custody after posting a $100,000 bond, that prosecutors have charged him with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor and one count each of sexual exploitation of a minor and furnishing harmful items to a minor, all of which are felonies.

Holt, who resigned from his position following his arrest, appeared for the hearing without an attorney to represent him, and when asked by Stewart why he had not hired one yet, he answered by saying he had contacted a few, but hasn't found one he could afford to hire yet.

Stewart informed Holt he probably would not qualify to have the court appoint an attorney to represent him, but the matter would be taken up again at his next hearing if he had not hired one by then.

He then explained to Holt that his case will go before either a grand jury or will be heard at a preliminary hearing to decide whether he will be indicted on the charges.

Holt's preliminary hearing has been set for 4 p.m. on March 23.

According to Yuma police, an investigation was started on Aug. 6, after it was reported that Holt allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with a male juvenile.

During the investigation, text messages and emails were allegedly located corroborating the allegations.

Holt was taken into custody on Thursday and questioned about the allegations, which Yuma police said he admitted to.

He was booked into the Yuma County jail on one count of sexual conduct with a minor, three counts of furnishing harmful items to minors and four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

He tendered his resignation as Yuma County CFO on Thursday evening.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.