Guilty verdict on burglary, criminal mischief and domestic abuse case

WASHINGTON — Rocio Gutierrez, 26, of Washington, Iowa was found guilty by a jury on May 12 of Burglary in the First Degree (a Class B felony,) Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree (a Class D felony,) and Domestic Abuse Assault, Third or Subsequent Offense (a Class D felony.)

On Oct. 28, 2020, Gutierrez and Gutierrez’s boyfriend had a verbal argument at their home in Washington. The boyfriend left and then met with a female friend.

The boyfriend was sitting in the passenger seat of the female friend’s car in a parking lot, complaining to the female friend about Gutierrez, when Gutierrez showed up and parked her SUV behind the female’s car. Gutierrez then forcibly removed her boyfriend from the car, assaulted her boyfriend, and went inside the female’s car and assaulted the female, causing injury. (Under Iowa law, burglary covers more than just a theft and can also occur when there is an assault inside a car or home.)

Gutierrez then got into her SUV and used her SUV to ram the female’s car, causing nearly $6,000 in damage. Evidence from Facebook and Tik Tok was used at trial to illustrate Gutierrez’s aggressive nature.

“I appreciate the jury’s time, attention to the facts, and just verdict in finding this violent person guilty,” Washington County Attorney John Gish said.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 17.