NAVAJO COUNTY — A judge sentenced elected county recorder Timothy Jordan to 18 months of probation after he pleaded guilty to charges stemming from an October 2024 road-rage incident. Details of the case were outlined during the sentencing hearing.
The sentencing hearing was held Feb. 13 at Navajo County Superior Court; however, the prosecution and judicial oversight came from outside the county. The case was prosecuted by a Coconino County prosecutor, and the presiding judge was Hon. Alan Goodwin, based in Pima County. The charges originated with the Show Low Police Department, and the investigation included witness statements from the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, including Sheriff David Clouse, who was a key prosecution witness. The case was indicted in Navajo County but later transferred to Coconino County for prosecution. Court officials said the sharing of prosecution and judicial authority was intended to address potential conflicts of interest, as Jordan was the elected Navajo County Recorder at the time, and the county sheriff played a role as a witness for the prosecution.
Dozens of supporters arrived for Jordan’s sentencing hearing, along with his wife, children, and his parents. This journalist was also present.
Jordan entered guilty pleas to one count of disorderly conduct with a weapon, an open, undesignated Class 6 felony, and one count of misconduct involving weapons, a misdemeanor. The charges were amended under a plea agreement, and the felony will be reduced to a misdemeanor upon completion of probation.
During the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor, Eric Ruchensky, the deputy county attorney for Coconino County, argued that Jordan’s actions caused emotional harm to the victims and posed a serious danger to public safety. The prosecutor said Jordan threatened unarmed victims during a road-rage encounter and later told law enforcement the victims were armed — a claim the state said escalated the police response.
The prosecutor also emphasized that the incident occurred near a school, contributing to fear and anxiety and prompting a lockdown. While the state sought three years of probation, it did not request jail time. The request from Navajo County Probation was 365 days in jail.
The alleged victims did not appear in court, either in person or online, during the sentencing hearing.
The prosecutor acknowledged the alleged victims engaged in inappropriate behavior, including throwing a drink at Jordan’s vehicle, and they were “behaving stupidly in some capacity.”
This journalist obtained police reports and surveillance footage from the school. There was no discrepancy between the reports, video, and the Feb. 13 court hearing that the alleged victims pursued Jordan, swerving and screaming profanities, speeding around his moving vehicle, and flipping him off. Then, staging their vehicle close by, as Jordan went into the school to pick his children up and call law enforcement, the alleged victims then drove around Jordan’s vehicle while in the school parking lot, pouring a sticky substance onto his vehicle as they raced away.
Jordan’s defense counsel, Joseph C. Finch of Genesis Legal Group, argued that Jordan never brandished a firearm and disputed whether the victims ever saw a gun. The defense characterized the incident as a misunderstanding compounded by miscommunication with law enforcement and said Jordan believed the other parties may have been armed.
Finch described that Jordan moved his firearm from his vehicle to his side holster when he felt he was being threatened by the alleged victims.
Jordan addressed the court directly, accepting responsibility for his actions.
“I take full accountability,” Jordan told the judge. “There were better ways to handle things. Some things we think too quickly, and we don’t step back and think of the repercussions.”
Jordan said the case had taken a heavy personal toll, citing widespread media attention, stress on his children, and professional consequences. He said his response to the situation was influenced by his military background and threat-assessment training, but acknowledged his actions were wrong. Jordan said he served several tours overseas as an Army infantryman.
“I’m not here to beg for a lighter sentence,” Jordan said. “Whatever you give, I will serve.”
In imposing sentence, the judge found several aggravating factors, including emotional impact on the victims, the presence of minors during the incident, and the dangerous nature of the offense. The judge also cited mitigating factors, including Jordan’s acceptance of responsibility, military service, medical issues, community support, and the unique circumstances surrounding the case.
The court declined to follow a presentence recommendation calling for 365 days in jail, stating that probation would better allow Jordan to learn from the incident and move forward.
Jordan was placed on 18 months of supervised probation, ordered to have no contact with the victims, complete 100 hours of community restitution, undergo a mental health evaluation and anger management, and pay court-ordered fines and assessments. The judge left restitution open for the duration of probation, citing the possibility of counseling costs for the victims.
Finch said Jordan accepted the plea “because it was in the best interest of him and his family.”
“He’s taking responsibility for his actions,” Finch said. “That’s a huge example to any politician anywhere. If he gets criticized for that, then shame on them.”
Jordan resigned his position as Navajo County Recorder on Jan. 27, 2026, and told Mountain Daily Star that his last day in office will be April 15, 2026.
The judge noted this is Jordan’s first felony conviction and said Jordan would be eligible for automatic restoration of civil rights upon successful completion of probation and payment of all restitution. Jordan was advised of his right to seek post-conviction relief within 90 days.
