LOGAN — A 24-year-old man was arrested Saturday after authorities say he severely beat, choked and bit a woman while preventing her from leaving a Hyrum residence. Cesar Gutierrez Lopez was booked into the Cache County Jail after law enforcement responded to the domestic dispute.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Cache County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the incident just before 5 p.m. The victim told investigators Gutierrez Lopez began drinking around 2 p.m. before becoming verbally and physically abusive.
When the woman stated she wanted to leave, Gutierrez Lopez allegedly slapped, pulled and pushed her to the floor to stop her. The victim reported that she tried to push him away but was unsuccessful. She told deputies Gutierrez Lopez strangled her twice, squeezing her neck until she lost her vision and believed she lost conscious-ness.
During the altercation, the suspect also allegedly slammed the woman’s head against a wall, bit her fingers once and bit her face three times while calling her derogatory names. The arresting deputy noted the victim was found standing outside her residence with swelling around her eyes, jaw and neck. Gutierrez Lopez sustained scratches on his face and chest, which deputies said were consistent with the victim defending herself.
Deputies reported Gutierrez Lopez appeared disoriented, smelled of alcohol and registered a .168 on a preliminary breath test. He also showed no remorse for what had happened.
Gutierrez Lopez appeared Monday in Logan’s 1st District Court. He was charged with aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony; aggravated assault, a second-degree felony; and public intoxication, a class C misdemeanor.
Cache County Deputy Attorney Aaron Jossie asked the court to hold Gutierrez Lopez without bail due to the nature of the charges. He said the incident was a “fairly violent attack,” and the suspect poses a danger to the alleged victim.
Gutierrez Lopez told the court he wouldn’t be able to pay for bail even if it was granted. He was ordered to remain in jail and appear again in court March 16.
If you or someone you know is going through abuse, help is available. CAPSA is a nonprofit domestic violence, sexual assault and sex trafficking support center serving Cache, Rich, and Franklin Counties. CAPSA’s 24-hour support phone line is 435-753-2500. For more information visit: www.capsa.org. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.