Man Pleads Not Guilty In Death Of Roommate
Joel Gutierrez Accused Of Killing Sex Offender Enrique Atilano
Posted: 05/29/2012
Last Updated:
362 days ago
A National City man accused of stabbing his sex-offender roommate to death pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and other charges.
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Joel Gutierrez was ordered held on $1 million bail.The 28-year-old defendant is charged in the death of 53-year-old Enrique Atilano, who had a conviction for committing lewd and lascivious acts on a child under 14.A passerby found Atilano on his doorstep in the 300 block of Norton Avenue around 1 a.m. May 15, according to National City police. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene.Atilano and Gutierrez shared a unit in a four-unit apartment complex, police said. Gutierrez was arrested the next day. The motive for the slaying was unclear.Gutierrez, who has a 2002 conviction for carjacking, faces 57 years to life in prison if convicted, said Deputy District Attorney William La Fond.South Bay Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal scheduled a readiness conference for July 25 and a preliminary hearing for Aug. 1.Copyright Do you have more information about this story? Click here to contact usCopyright 2012 by City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
