Navajo County Deputy County Attorney Robert “Rob” Edwards has devoted more than 25 years to seeking justice for often the most innocent and helpless victims of our society. For his dedication and exemplary record, the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council awarded Edwards the 2023 APAAC Lifetime Achievement Prosecutor Award during its annual awards ceremony held on June 29. The award recognizes an individual who has had a distinguished career as a public prosecutor, making significant contributions to the protection of public safety and the administration of justice, and whose career exemplifies the highest standards of dedication and commitment to the profession. As Navajo County’s lead child and sex crimes prosecutor, Edwards demonstrates a remarkable ability to balance the demands of a complex and emotionally charged caseload with a deep compassion and fierce commitment to victims. “These are the crimes that keep you awake at night. The details can be chilling, and witnessing the damage to a small child, or in the haunted eyes of an adult whose victimization lasted for years, can exact a terrible toll on prosecutors. Understandably, it often leads to burnout,” said Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon. “But for Rob, his decades in this field have led to an ever-greater resolve to stand for those who can’t always count on the people in their lives to support and protect them.” Edwards earned his law degree at University of Arizona in 1997. Upon graduation, he went to work for the Apache County Attorney’s Office, drawn to the simple, guiding principle for prosecutors: “What is the right thing to do?” In 2002, he joined the Navajo County Attorney’s Office. Edwards has prosecuted nearly 2,000 cases in his tenure at the county. During years when the office was understaffed, he would carry up to 130 cases at a time. Still, time and again, Edwards secured justice in cases that appeared unwinnable. One such case featured two girls who had been victimized over a period of years by their stepfather. They disclosed to their mother, who was devastated. The case held all the hallmarks that make child and sex crimes so difficult to prosecute: inconsistent victim statements, no biological evidence, no admissions of guilt, and one of the victims was sexually active. Physical evidence that might have served the case was inadvertently destroyed by the mother. Despite all these factors, Edwards secured a guilty verdict and justice prevailed. “I’m inspired by the courage of children,” said Edwards. “Reporting abuse can be one of the most difficult things a child ever does.” He continues, “In one of my most memorable cases, a nine-year-old girl, after being sexually victimized in the middle of the night, went immediately to her younger sister’s room, lifted her out of bed, and carried her to a room with a locking door. Only after ensuring that her little sister was safe did the nine-year-old retrieve a phone and call 911. Her first impulse – a heroic impulse – was to do everything she could to prevent the perpetrator from doing to her sister what he had just done to her.” Edwards earned APAAC’s 2007-08 Felony Prosecutor of the Year for Small Jurisdictions Award and was named the 2006 Arizona Narcotics Prosecutor of the Year by the Arizona Narcotics Officers Association. He also earned the 2018 Navajo County Victim Service’s Criminal Justice Award. Edwards resides in Holbrook. He’s an avid rock climber and accomplished musician. “Rob has had a profound and lasting impact on the lives of countless children, families and adults for whom he has fought for justice. This prestigious award is fitting recognition for a lifetime of exceptional service to the field of prosecution,” concluded Carlyon. “I am proud of the tremendous work Rob has undertaken on behalf of thousands of crime victims in Navajo County and offer my sincere congratulations on this well-deserved award.”
