Prisoner who escaped from LA County reentry facility back in custody

Justin Gutierrez (Source: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation)

A 32-year-old repeat robbery offender is back in custody after walking away from a community reentry program in Los Angeles County over the weekend.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials discovered Justin Gutierrez had left the reentry facility without permission at 7:40 p.m. Friday after they received an alert regarding the removal of an ankle monitor, corrections officials said.

He was apprehended the following day in South Gate, according to authorities. Gutierrez’s case will be referred to the Los Angeles County District Attorney for possible escape charges.

On April 15, 2020, Gutierrez was sentenced to three years for second-degree robbery. In July 2023, he was sentenced to six years for robbery as a second striker, with that sentence to be served concurrently with his first offense, corrections officials said.

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Gutierrez has been housed at a Male Community Reentry Program Los Angeles County facility since Aug. 22, 2024.

The CDCR's Office of Correctional Safety and local law enforcement agencies assisted in the search.