Man gets six years in prison for kidnapping, sexual abuse

The Superior Court has imposed a six-year prison term on a carpenter accused of beating up his common-law wife and pouring gas on a minor girl.

Associate Judge David Wiseman sentenced Arnel Cunanan Gutierrez to six years in prison for one count of kidnapping and one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree.

Wiseman said that after serving the prison term, the 41-year-old Gutierrez will be placed on three years of probation.

The judge required the defendant to perform 80 hours of community work service, to write a letter of apology to the victims, and undergo counseling evaluation.

Guetierrez is also required to register as a sex offender.

The first amended information charged Gutierrez with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of assault and battery, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree, and one count of disturbing the peace.

The defendant and his lawyer, assistant public defender Malik Edwards, entered a plea agreement with the government, represented by assistant attorney general Melissa Simms.

Gutierrez pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping and one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree. The remaining charges were dismissed.

Chief Prosecutor Jeffery L. Warfield Sr. stated in the charging information that on Aug. 3, 2007, Guetierrez assaulted his common-law wife with a knife and the 15-year-old girl with a gas canister.

Warfield said the defendant also hit and kicked the minor.

The defendant, the chief prosecutor said, padlocked and chained the front door to their house while the victims were inside. Gutierrez also allegedly sexually abused the child on that same day.

Detective Peter A. Aldan stated in court papers that Gutierrez came home after a drinking session with a neighbor and had an argument with his wife. He also slapped the child on the head.

The wife pushed Gutierrez outside the room and shouted at her to leave the child alone.

The defendant went to the kitchen and took a disposable butane canister for a small gas stove and went back into the child’s room, where he allegedly sprayed butane gas on her. The child managed to take away the butane canister from the defendant.

Nobody called the police that night but the following morning when Gutierrez went to work, the common-law wife called 911. The defendant was then arrested.