Overview
- Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez, who pleaded guilty in April, withdrew the deal Friday after the judge said she would add a 365-day jail term.
- His attorneys said he has a neurological disorder and would not accept a 365-day jail condition.
- The case now returns to trial, with a pretrial hearing set for Aug. 26, 2026.
- The Nov. 16, 2022 crash in Whittier hit a training run of 76 sheriff’s recruits and injured 25, and investigators later said it was not intentional and likely caused by the driver falling asleep.
- One recruit, 27-year-old Alejandro Martinez-Inzunza, died in July 2023 from his injuries, and prosecutors had earlier outlined a plea with five years of probation and a suspended eight-year prison term before Friday’s turn.