DUI Trial Results in Guilty Verdict

Defendant Faces Up to 40 Years in Prison

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has announced that a Reno man has been found guilty after a four day jury trial that began last Monday.  The prosecution was the result of an August, 2016 accident where the defendant drove with a blood alcohol level of over twice the legal limit and hit an 11 year old girl who was riding her bicycle in front of her home. 

Jose Lugo-Gutierrez, 37 from Reno was found guilty last Thursday on one count of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Controlled or Prohibited Substance, Causing Substantial Bodily Harm and one count of Duty to Stop at Scene of Accident Involving injury in Washoe County District Court. The charges against Lugo-Gutierrez stemmed from an August 26, 2016 vehicle versus pedestrian accident investigated by the Reno Police Department (RPD). RPD officers determined that Lugo-Gutierrez was driving drunk when he sped through a South Kietzke Lane trailer park and hit an 11 year old girl who was riding her bike in front of her home.  The child’s father witnessed the accident and, moments earlier, had yelled at Lugo-Gutierrez to slow down.  The girl was transported to the hospital and treated for a concussion, abrasions and bruising.  Lugo-Gutierrez initially fled the scene, but was quickly located and arrested. 

The case was submitted to this office and formal criminal charges were filed against the defendant.  At trial, Deputy District Attorney Peg Samples presented evidence proving Lugo-Gutierrez’s blood alcohol level was .210 at the time of the accident. The conviction carries a possibly prison term of up to 40 years and sentencing is set for May 3, 2017 in Washoe County District Court.