Trial Begins for Man Accused of Driving Into LA Sheriff’s Recruits
Trial Looms for Driver Accused in Deadly Crash Involving Sheriff’s Recruits
An emotional day unfolded in the courtroom on Friday as Nicholas Gutierrez, the driver accused of killing a Los Angeles County sheriff’s recruit and injuring 25 others during a training run in Whittier in November 2022, faced the prospect of trial.
Gutierrez had previously accepted a plea deal that would have put him on probation for five years, but this agreement unraveled when the presiding judge altered the terms, opting for a jail sentence instead. As a result, Gutierrez’s legal team withdrew their acceptance of the plea.
Prosecutors allege that Gutierrez fell asleep at the wheel of his SUV, which veered into the group of recruits along Mills Avenue, tragically resulting in the death of 26-year-old Alejandro Martinez. Last month, Gutierrez pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and nine counts of reckless driving causing injury. The plea deal initially included five years of probation and a suspended eight-year prison sentence that would only be activated in the event of probation violations.
Martinez’s family was present in court on Friday as 14 victim statements were read aloud. Following this, the judge determined that probation alone was insufficient.
Gutierrez’s attorneys argued that he was suffering from a previously undiagnosed neurological disorder during the incident, a claim that contributed to their decision to reject the court’s terms and proceed to trial. He is scheduled to return to court on August 26 for a pretrial hearing.
Following the crash on November 16, 2022, Gutierrez was initially taken into custody but released the next day as sheriff’s officials clarified that further investigation was necessary. He was re-arrested by the California Highway Patrol in November 2023 and posted a $500,000 bond within hours. Authorities later concluded a yearlong investigation, finding no evidence of intentional wrongdoing, and determined that Gutierrez likely dozed off before the crash.
In January, Gutierrez waived his right to a jury trial, meaning a judge will decide his case if it proceeds to trial.
