Southern California Man Withdraws Plea in Fatal Crash Involving LASD Recruit

Norwalk, California – Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez, who faces charges of vehicular manslaughter and multiple counts related to a serious crash involving Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) recruits, has withdrawn his guilty plea. This decision was made during a court appearance on Friday as Gutierrez faced the prospect of a one-year jail sentence, a condition he and his legal team were unwilling to accept.

Initially, Gutierrez had pleaded guilty last month to upgraded charges. His plea deal included five years of probation and a suspended eight-year state prison term. However, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Laura Walton’s indication of a jail sentence altered this arrangement, prompting his withdrawal. Gutierrez’s attorneys emphasized his struggle with a neurological disorder when arguing against the additional jail term.

The charges stem from a tragic incident on November 16, 2022, when Gutierrez allegedly veered into a group of recruits during a training run in Whittier. Of the 76 recruits present, 25 sustained injuries, with Alejandro Martinez-Inzunza later succumbing to his injuries in July 2023. Investigators reported no evidence suggesting the crash was intentional, concluding that Gutierrez likely fell asleep at the wheel.

The case has undergone significant developments since its inception. Following the incident, Gutierrez was arrested hours later but released the next day. A timeline of key events includes:

• November 2022: Gutierrez was arrested shortly after the crash, then released.
• July 2023: Alejandro Martinez-Inzunza died from his injuries.
• November 2023: Gutierrez was re-arrested by the California Highway Patrol and later released on a $500,000 bond.
• January 2024: He pleaded not guilty to a new indictment and waived his right to a jury trial.
• April 2026: Gutierrez changed his plea to guilty for one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and nine counts of reckless driving causing injury.

Following the withdrawal of his plea deal, the case is expected to proceed to trial, with Gutierrez scheduled to return to court on August 26 for a pretrial hearing.