Los Angeles voters did a rare good thing in November of 2024, jettisoning criminal-loving LA County District Attorney George Gascón and replacing him with the much more sane Nathan Hochman.
That being said, I have no idea how to explain this one.
In November 2022, 25-year-old Nicholas Gutierrez was driving on the wrong side of the street in Whittier, California, and plowed into a group of 25 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s recruits who were on a training run. One was killed, and five were severely injured. Investigators determined that Gutierrez had fallen asleep.
On Monday, he pled guilty to 10 felony charges — and yet he’s going to walk away with no time served. Justice, California style.
This is absolutely unreal.
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) April 21, 2026
The guy that plowed his car into dozens of Los Angeles County sheriff’s recruits, killing one and gravely injuring several others, just took a sweetheart plea AND WILL SERVE ZERO TIME IN PRISON.
Nicholas Gutierrez pleaded guilty to vehicular… https://t.co/cbITBanfCc pic.twitter.com/71xfsUtSDc
Nicholas Gutierrez pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and several counts of reckless driving.
In exchange for pleading guilty to all of his charges, he received a suspended sentence of eight years and five years of probation, meaning that as long as he doesn’t violate his conditions he will avoid time behind bars.
There is no justice for victims in Gavin Newsom’s lawless California.
Many thought the horrific accident was not an accident at all — but was a purposeful act.
MORE: Sheriff: Suspect Mowed Down LA Law Enforcement Recruits in a 'Deliberate Act'
The story is a tragic one, as we reported at the time:
A group of seventy-five recruits from the STAR Explore Training Academy were jogging along Mills Avenue in South Whittier (just outside the city of Los Angeles) when an SUV traveling the wrong way slammed into the trainees…
Some of the most severe injuries included head trauma, broken bones and loss of limbs, he added.
“We’re just facing some life-altering injuries for some most severely injured recruits,” [then-Sheriff Alex] Villanueva said.
Twenty-seven-year-old LASD recruit Alejandro Martinez-Inzunza died from his injuries months after the crash.
The wrong-way driver, Nicholas Gutierrez of Diamond Bar, pleaded guilty to one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and nine felony counts of reckless driving on a highway causing a specified injury, Los Angeles County District Attorney District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Monday.
Although Gutierrez faced up to 12 years in prison for his crimes, he will avoid any prison time if he adheres to the terms of his probation, the DA’s office said.
Natuarally, there will be no prison time for the wrong way driver who plowed his car into 25 LA sheriff recruits in 2022, killing one and severely maiming others. https://t.co/jjN7HvmoCY
— Peachy Keenan (@KeenanPeachy) April 21, 2026
The explanation will leave many, including me, unsatisfied.
“Based on a negotiated plea, the court imposed a total sentence of eight years in state prison, suspended,” the DA’s office said. “This means Gutierrez will be placed on probation for the maximum term of five years, under strict conditions set by the court. Under the plea agreement, if he violates any of those conditions, the court will then be obligated to impose the full eight-year prison term.”
Hochman continued:
“Today’s plea and sentence cannot undo the devastation of that day, nor will it bring back the life that was lost.
“But it does mark a step toward justice and a measure of closure for the victims and their families whose lives have been forever changed.”
I can’t speak for the families or the victims, but I don’t see how this marks a step toward justice or brings a measure of closure. To me, it just shows, once again, that you can do just about anything in Los Angeles and you won’t have to pay much in the way of consequences.
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