William Joey Gutierrez Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on November 15, 2012, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, William Joey Gutierrez, III, a 21-year-old resident of Pryor and an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe of Indians, pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Sentencing has been set for February 14, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an offer of proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Vincent Carroll, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On April 17, 2012, Gutierrez and the victim were in the bedroom of their house in Dunmore on the Crow Indian Reservation. Gutierrez (later while being interviewed by law enforcement) admitted that, while in their bedroom, he hit the victim in her face with his closed fist because of “alcohol and jealousy.” Both the victim and Gutierrez had been drinking. The victim was taken to the hospital, where she was treated for a fractured orbital and medial wall. Two treating physicians indicated that the victim’s injuries constituted serious bodily injury because of extreme physical pain and protracted and obvious disfigurement.

Several witnesses at the house stated that they heard the victim yelling, “No,” and then saw the victim with a swollen eye shortly afterwards.

Gutierrez faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.