Sheriff Chris Nanos avoids being fired as county refers allegations of lying to AG
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A move to fire Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos failed during a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday night, even though the board voted to refer allegations of perjury to the state attorney general’s office as Nanos’ past record and handling of the Nancy Guthrie case came under heavy scrutiny.
Republican Steve Christy moved to have the board declare the sheriff’s office vacant and begin the process to replace him immediately. However, no one supported the request to overthrow him and it was not successful.
Democrat Rex Scott then made a motion to refer the perjury charges against Nanos to the state AG’s office, which the board approved by a 4-0 vote, with Christy abstaining.
The board’s action ended a controversy over allegations that the man leading the Guthrie kidnapping investigation lied under oath about his previous police record.
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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos leaves a gym in Tucson, Ariz., on May 9, 2026. (Matthew Symons of Fox News Digital)
The incidents followed weeks of mounting pressure from county leadership, with two incumbents, Christy and Democrat Matt Heinz, seeking to remove the elected official or take legal action against him.
“This is the accountability of a man who has avoided accountability for decades,” Heinz told Fox News Digital last week, calling Nanos “a threat to public safety.”
At the center of the controversy are claims Nanos misled officials about his disciplinary history as a Texas police officer in the 1970s and 1980s.
These allegations stem from his indictment, where Nanos swore that he had never been appointed as a law enforcement officer.
Records from El Paso, first obtained by the Arizona Republic and later made public by the state, show he was suspended multiple times and resigned rather than fired.
Christy said the sheriff has already missed a deadline to answer questions under the board’s oath of office – making the situation worse.
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“He’s already failed that request… so we’re on to the next step,” Christy said, indicating that he might leave the office.
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Because the sheriff is an elected official, removing him is legally complicated, though officials have pointed to an Arizona law that has rarely been used since the 1800s as a possible way forward.
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Pima County Administrator Chris Nanos speaks to the media in Catalina, Ariz., on Feb. 3 while answering questions about the search for Nancy Guthrie. (Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)
Even without removal, Heinz said the board could take other steps, including passing a resolution of no confidence or referring the allegations to a criminal investigation by the state attorney general.
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He also pointed out that a conviction for perjury would eventually force the sheriff out of office.
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Adding to the tension, both sides have retained outside counsel instead of relying on the district attorney’s office, a move Christy said costs taxpayers more money.
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A Pima County sheriff’s deputy stands outside Nancy Guthrie’s home in Tucson, Ariz., on Feb. 14, 2026. (Ty O’Neil/AP)
In a written response to the board, Nanos dismissed the claims, saying the dispute stemmed from a misunderstanding, not a lie.
His attorney says the sheriff’s testimony only refers to his work in Arizona, noting that he has never been suspended during his decades with the County Sheriff’s Department, although he faced prior disciplinary action in Texas.
The memo also confirms that Nanos resigned from the El Paso Police Department in 1982 rather than accept a proposed suspension following a dispute with a supervisor.
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Heinz disputed that characterization, arguing the record shows Nanos resigned instead of being terminated, not disciplined.
The sheriff declined to personally answer questions under oath, instead sending an anonymous statement to the board after deadline, saying Heinz could still be accepted but did not address existing concerns.
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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos leaves the press room after giving an update on the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, 84, in Tucson, Ariz., on Feb. 5, 2026. (REUTERS/Rebecca Noble)
The investigation into Guthrie’s disappearance on Feb. 1 has now passed 100 days with few public results.
The case, involving the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie, host of the “Tonight” show, has attracted national attention and sparked a rift between Nanos and the FBI, including a public clash with Director Kash Patel over whether federal agents were initially sidelined.
Heinz also asked the sheriff to turn the investigation over to federal authorities.
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“It’s ridiculous,” he said. “Almost every other authority would do that now.”
A reward of more than $1.2 million is now being offered for information leading to answers, as his family continues to appeal for help.
