Arrested in July 2015, Frank Gutierrez pleaded guilty to two felonies and two misdemeanor charges and admitted to several prior convictions on March 30.
Judge David A. Gunn pronounced the sentence Monday, June 19.
He imposed a low term of two years and eight months for counts 2 (possession of controlled substances) and 3 (marijuana of more than 28.5 grams), both terms to run concurrently.
Fortunately for Gutierrez, the pre-sentence time served was 484 days and he received credit for 970 days. Consequently, the judge declared that no further time needs to be served.
While some fines will be paid, Gutierrez was released on parole.
Gutierrez of Idyllwild was arrested when Riverside City Police, in cooperation with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, arrested Lisa Marie Brown, 40, of Riverside, for hit and run, vehicular manslaughter and possession for sale of methamphetamine. The arrests were made in Idyllwild.
Gutierrez, 67, was charged for various drug-related felonies and prior convictions. His arrest appeared to be a byproduct of the arrest of Brown, who later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years in state prison.
On March 30, the court and prosecution were ready to proceed to a jury trial for Gutierrez. But his counselor had filed a motion to suppress some evidence, which he claimed was illegally obtained.
The court agreed to exclude a rifle. And the prosecution moved to dismiss the charge of receiving stolen property. Gutierrez then pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm and marijuana.