Driver rescinds guilty plea in wrong-way crash into LA sheriff’s recruits
The judge rejected a deal that would have spared Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez prison time, and the case is now headed to trial.
- On Friday, Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez withdrew his guilty plea after Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Laura Walton indicated she would impose a 365-day jail term, collapsing the plea deal and sending the case to trial.
- The charges stem from a November 16, 2022, crash in Whittier where Gutierrez struck 76 members of LASD Academy Class 464 during a training run, killing Recruit Alejandro Martinez-Inzunza.
- Defense attorney Alexandra Kazarian said Gutierrez, 25, is "suffering from a previously undiagnosed neurological disorder at the time of the incident," citing why his team rejected the judge's added jail condition from the original five-year probation deal.
- Judge Walton imposed the jail term following emotional statements from more than a dozen crash victims on Friday, while former Sheriff Alex Villanueva previously called the original plea bargain "an insult to the families."
- With the plea deal voided, the case will now proceed to trial, and Gutierrez is scheduled to appear in court on August 26 for a pretrial hearing on the felony charges.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Associated Press News
Driver rescinds guilty plea in wrong-way crash into LA sheriff's recruits
A driver has rescinded his guilty plea to charges related to a wrong-way crash that led to the death of a Los Angeles sheriff’s recruit and injured several others who were out on a run.
LA man who killed police cadet in wrong-way crash withdraws guilty plea after facing jail time
The Los Angeles judge changed the terms after hearing emotional testimony from those whose lives were dramatically altered by the 2022 crash when Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez killed sheriff's cadet Alejandro Martinez-Inzunza and injured other cadets.
Judge rejects no-jail plea in case of man who plowed into L.A. County deputy recruits
A man who previously pleaded guilty to crashing into Sheriff’s Department recruits, killing one and seriously injuring others, is headed to trial, authorities said Friday.
Wrong-way driver accused of plowing into 25 LASD recruits, killing 1, withdraws guilty plea
A wrong-way driver accused of plowing his car into a group of jogging L.A. County Sheriff’s Department recruits in Whittier in 2022, killing one, is heading back to trial after he withdrew hi…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
