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Local News

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Findlay man found guilty of six rapes
By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

A Hancock County jury convicted a Findlay man on Wednesday of raping a young girl six times.

Ronnie Gutierrez, 44, now could face up to six consecutive life-in-prison terms for the six convictions of rape, all first-degree felonies.

The common pleas court jury of nine women and three men convicted Gutierrez of the charges after three hours of deliberation. They also found him guilty of specifications, attached to each of the counts, stating the girl was less than 10 years old at the time of the offenses.

Gutierrez showed little reaction after the verdicts were announced. He was led out in handcuffs by a sheriff's deputy and taken to the Hancock County jail, where he will remain behind bars until Judge Joseph Niemeyer sentences him at 9 a.m. March 18.

The minimum sentence he faces is life in prison with eligibility for parole after 10 years, according to Hancock County Assistant Prosecutor Kristen Johnson.

The girl's mother, who testified during the trial, declined comment after the verdict was announced.

Gutierrez's attorney, Jerry McHenry of the Ohio Public Defender's Office, also declined comment until after sentencing.

Gutierrez was found guilty of having sexual contact with the girl while she was in kindergarten and continuing until she was 7 years old.

The prosecution presented all of its witnesses on Tuesday, and McHenry did not call any witnesses on Wednesday. Gutierrez did not take the stand.

In closing arguments Wednesday, McHenry asked the jury to consider the girl's "penchant for lying," and also argued the state's witnesses were only giving testimony based on what the girl had told them.

"You have been asked to convict him of these very heinous crimes based on the testimony of a 7-year-old," McHenry said.

After the verdict was announced, Johnson said the key pieces of evidence in the case were the girl's testimony to the jury on Tuesday, and the video of her interview with police.

"She was incredible and was so strong on the stand," Johnson said.

Cravens: 419-427-8422,

Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens


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13 Comments (2 pages)

Latest comments listed first.
Lori wrote:
Dan
“ He had representation and was found guilty. I'm sure his lawyer appealed. As it stands, he should never see the light of day again. ”
Saturday, March 13, 2010 8:13:15 AM
Dan wrote:
Findlay man found guilty of six rapes
“ As horrific these crimes are these individuals deserve proper representation in court just like anyone else. I have known of several cases where individuals were charged with similar crimes and later found innocent when the alleged victim changed their testimony.

The problem here is that too many people let emotions take over and line up to throw stones at someone even accused of the crime. ”
Friday, March 12, 2010 10:55:07 AM
Barbara Hughes wrote:
Child Rape/Sexual Molestation
“ Hang him that's the best way taxpapers won't have to support him. How did he have access to this child the paper didn't say. Takes a sick person to bother a child. ”
Thursday, March 11, 2010 11:45:50 PM
bob the builder wrote:
baby raper
“ DEATH to all that commit sexual crimes against children. dont waste my tax money on their worthless lives. either death or sentence them to a life of living the situations that they put the children through 24-7 for the rest of their lives. i would be willing to let my tax money be used for that. ”
Thursday, March 11, 2010 11:20:05 PM
ava wrote:
comments
“ pray and hope that time will heal this young little girl..
it is a horrific that any child has to go through this.

keep your children safe and watch over them carefully.
children at this young tender age don't lie especially about something of this nature or child abuse.

i doubt this monster will ever walk the streets a free man! ”
Thursday, March 11, 2010 11:06:08 PM
Mike wrote:
I thought this story was about ...
“ ... an NFL quarterback. ”
Thursday, March 11, 2010 10:23:55 PM
adam wrote:
sex offeners
“ I cant belive we as taxpayers have to pay for their free housing and meals! There is no rehab for these animals. People never change. We should take all murderers and sex offenders and put em to death. Could you imagine how much money we as taxpayers would save? We as america has lost our way ”
Thursday, March 11, 2010 8:17:56 PM
bws wrote:
Conviction of rapist
“ I certainly dont envy the job of a defense attorney! Sometimes they have the unenviable task of defending someone that they, themselves, know is guilty as sin. Young children do fib, but if theres irrefutable proof linking the victim to the defendant in such a horrific crime, like DNA, eye witness testimony (other than the little girl) or video , then the guy needs to be put to death. Someone who has repeatedly raped cannot be saved or rehabilitated and they certainly dont deserve all the money it takes to study, house, clothe, educate and entertain them for the rest of their lives. ”
Thursday, March 11, 2010 6:26:36 PM
Patrick wrote:
Hanging horse theives
“ You are correct. They used to hang horse thieves. They used to keep slaves and women couldn't vote. What he did was unthinkable and wrong. There is help and I hope he finds it. ”
Thursday, March 11, 2010 2:26:52 PM
Patricia Hatfield wrote:
Findlay man found guilty of six rapes
“ They had better give him more than 10 years in jail. They are too lenient on sex offenders. Look at the guy in CA who has killed one or more young girls after being released from jail. They cannot be reabilitated and should not be allowed back in society. They used to hang a person just for stealing a horse. ”
Thursday, March 11, 2010 1:09:38 PM
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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
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Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.