US Marshals Office in Texas nabs suspected child rapist from Othello

OTHELLO, Wash. - The Othello Police Department said a man who was wanted on charges of raping a teen has been arrested in Texas.

Jesus Gutierrez-Guerrero, 26, of Othello, was arrested May 2 in McAllen, Texas. Authorities said he has been on the run for several months.

In 2021, Gutierrez-Guerrero was arrested after authorities claimed he admitted to having sex with a 13-year-old girl from Ephrata. In 2022, authorities said he pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful imprisonment with sexual motivation. As part of the plea deal, he was required to register as a sex offender and was ordered not to have contact with the teen.

In 2022, the teen ran away from home and went missing for 18 months. In 2023, authorities said the teen was dropped off at a Moses Lake hospital and ended up giving birth. The teen was now 15. Authorities were called to the hospital and a sex assault investigation was launched. This is when it is believed Gutierrez-Guerrero left the area to avoid law enforcement. Authorities said he violated the terms of his probation and failed to register as a sex offender.

The US Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force and the McAllen Police Department tracked Gutierrez-Guerrero to McAllen and he was arrested and taken to jail. He is awaiting extradition back to Washington.

The Moses Lake Police Department, Adams County Sheriff's Office and Spokane Police Department also assisted on the investigation.

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