The trial has been scheduled for a former Sedona resident who was the subject of a grand jury indictment against her and her fiance for allegedly sexually molesting a minor.
According to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the trial for Marisa Ann Claire has been set for Wednesday, March 20, in Phoenix with a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday, March 13.
On May 22, 2018, the AG announced a grand jury indictment against Claire, then-36, and 40year-old Matthew Kevin Dunlap.
The two had been living in Sedona but moved to Phoenix prior to their arrest on May 11, which came during a joint operation by Sedona and Phoenix police departments. They were arrested on multiple charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of a 7-year-old Sedona girl. Dunlap, a Mingus High School graduate, was indicted on 33 counts, including sexual exploitation of a minor, sexual conduct with a minor and furnishing harmful or obscene materials to a minor.
Dunlap was also accused of possessing additional child pornography. Claire was indicted on four felony counts, including molestation of a child, sexual conduct with a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor.
According to the AG, the alleged abuse began in late 2016 in Coconino and Yavapai counties and went on for nearly a year. According to the AG’s office, Dunlap was accused of taking videos of the sex acts on his phone and/or tablet. Claire allegedly participated in at least two instances of abuse on video, the indictment states.
The allegations came to light in February of last year when the alleged victim told her parents about the videos and her parents called Sedona Police Department. An investigation into the allegations was immediately opened in cooperation with the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. An email to Claire’s lawyer, Bruce Griffen, seeking comment on the case was not returned by press time. Shortly after his arrest, a $150,000 bond was paid and Dunlap was released from the Maricopa County Jail.
On July 31, Phoenix police responded to 2000 E. Highland Avenue in Phoenix for a death investigation where they found the body of Dunlap.
“There is no evidence of foul play,” Sgt. Mercedes Fortune, of the Phoenix Police Department, said at the time.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined the cause of Dunlap’s death was suicide by hanging. At the time of Dunlap’s death, Attorney General spokeswoman Katie Conner said the case against Claire would proceed with a trial originally scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 22. Sedona Police Lt. Lucas Wilcoxson confirmed that Dunlap had confessed to the sexual abuse following his arrest but that Claire did not confess to any wrongdoing.
