A Battle Ground man accused of killing his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son entered not-guilty pleas Monday in Clark County Superior Court, though his attorney said he may enter an insanity plea at a later date.
Ricardo Gutierrez, 39, faces charges of first-degree domestic violence murder and second-degree domestic violence assault for allegedly beating and stabbing Jose “Pepe” Castillo-Cisneros to death May 23 at their Battle Ground home. He was not the boy’s father.
Gutierrez’s arraignment was previously set over twice so his defense attorney, Ed Dunkerly, could decide whether to pursue an insanity defense. Written notice of an insanity defense must be filed at the time of arraignment or within 10 days after, according to state court rules.
However, Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Tony Golik, who’s handling Gutierrez’s case, said he will not object if the defense does not meet that time frame.
Judge Robert Lewis also granted the defense’s waiver of speedy trial and set Gutierrez’s trial date for June 26. His next hearing will be Nov. 8.
Gutierrez attacked Pepe after the child reportedly became upset over a movie he didn’t want to watch, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.
He also is accused of harming the boy’s mother, Yadira Cisneros-Sanchez, as she tried to stop him. Police said she suffered injuries to her leg, arm and neck.
Man sentenced in crash that hurt pedestrian
A Vancouver man who caused a crash that severely injured a pedestrian was given a six-month sentence Monday in Clark County Superior Court.
Chancellor Pruett, 20, pleaded guilty in July to vehicular assault by driving in a reckless manner in connection with the August 2014 crash near Columbia River High School.
Judge Gregory Gonzales sentenced Pruett to three months of work release — a program that allows inmates to work outside in the community and be confined when they’re not working — 60 days on a work crew and 400 hours of community service to be served through Legacy Emanuel Medical Center’s driver safety program.
Pruett initially asked that he be able to serve half of his sentence through community service. He planned to present at high schools about the dangers of reckless driving.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Pruett was driving his 2006 Mazda Speed 6 west on Northwest 99th Street at about 6:20 p.m. Aug. 31, 2014, when he passed a vehicle using the right-turn only lane in the 900 block of the street. He then crossed back into the westbound lane and clipped an eastbound 1997 Silver BMW that was turning into a driveway.
The Mazda continued forward and drove onto the sidewalk, struck a brick retaining wall and slammed into then 17-year-old Chase Pickens, who had been walking west on 99th Street, the affidavit states. Pickens was a junior at Skyview High School at the time, according to Columbian archives.
Detectives calculated that Pruett’s vehicle was traveling between 64 mph and 88 mph at the time, court records show. The speed limit in that area is 35 mph, according to the prosecution.
Pickens suffered two broken legs, a severe head injury and other internal injuries, according to the affidavit.
On Monday, Pickens told the court that he was hospitalized for more than four months and that it was difficult for him to finish high school with his brain injury. Pickens, who walks with a limp, said he’s unsure if he will ever walk normally.
He told Gonzales that he remembers crying in the hospital wondering, “Why did this happen to me?”
In addition to his sentence, Pruett will serve 12 months of community custody and must pay restitution in an amount that will be determined at a later date. He was given credit for about a week in custody.
Teen appears in court in robbery case
A Vancouver man suspected in multiple robberies and a shooting was back in Clark County Superior Court on Monday.
Cocaya S. Thomas, 19, appeared on suspicion of first-degree robbery in connection with a stolen firearms case. Thomas also faces charges of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree robbery and two counts of possession of a stolen firearm between two other cases.
He allegedly robbed two 16-year-old boys of a designer belt Aug. 12, and then four days later, fired shots during an altercation with a man in the 5900 block of Hazel Dell Avenue.
In the latest case, Thomas is accused of robbing a 17-year-old boy of a firearm, which was then allegedly used in the commission of the other crimes, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.
Detectives served a search warrant at Thomas’ residence Aug. 26 and reportedly found a stolen revolver under his bed. The firearm was reported stolen Aug. 11, along with another pistol, the affidavit states.
Thomas said he had met with the teen in a parking lot at Northeast Highway 99 and 63rd Street sometime in early August to purchase the weapon. The firearm, a .380 revolver, reportedly belongs to the teen’s stepfather, court records show.
Thomas allegedly admitted to presenting another firearm during the exchange and taking the revolver without paying, according to court documents.
During his court appearance, Judge Robert Lewis set Thomas’ total bail at $350,000.
He will be arraigned in this case Friday.