Atwater man charged with beating pregnant wife

An Atwater man faces a felony domestic-violence charge after he allegedly assaulted his pregnant wife with a mop handle, authorities said Friday.

Juan M. Gutierrez was charged Friday by the Merced County District Attorney’s Office with a single felony count of inflicting corporal injury to a spouse, Supervising Deputy District Attorney Steve Slocum confirmed.

Gutierrez, 27, was arrested Tuesday following a weeklong investigation by the Atwater Police Department, Lt. Samuel Joseph confirmed.

Joseph said the 30-year-old victim, who is about seven months pregnant, is still working with doctors to determine whether the fetus suffered any injuries.

The couple argued Nov. 25 about Gutierrez’s alleged methamphetamine use, and he struck her “near the abdomen” with the end of a mop handle, “potentially endangering the viable fetus and causing pain,” Joseph said.

Police said the argument occurred at the couple’s home in the 1100 block of Swaps Street in Atwater.

Officers were unable to locate Gutierrez for several days. Part of the trouble finding the suspect, police said, stemmed from the fact that Gutierrez works in various agriculture fields in Merced County, making it difficult to confirm his whereabouts.

He was arrested following his interview with Atwater police detectives and was booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of domestic violence and child endangerment, officers said.

Prosecutors did not file the child-abuse charge Friday, but didn’t rule out the possibility of adding the charge later. Slocum said additional investigation, including interviews with the victim, were necessary before prosecutors could make that decision.

Gutierrez pleaded guilty in 2006 to possession of marijuana for sale and served three months in jail, according to Merced Superior Court records.

He remained in custody Friday at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility on $70,000 bail, according to booking records.

This story was originally published December 12, 2014 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Atwater man charged with beating pregnant wife."