Suspect Arrested & Charged in Chico Assault and Home Invasion on East Lassen Ave
Above: Francisco Gutierrez-Gomez
(Photo credit: Butte County District Attorney’s Office)
A Chico man has appeared in court on charges related to an alleged assault with intent to rape during a home invasion.
The Butte County District Attorney’s Office announced last week that Francisco Gutierrez-Gomez, 38, has been formally charged with assault to commit rape and personally using a weapon during the crime.
According to authorities, Chico police were called to an apartment complex on the 1000 block of East Lassen Avenue in the early morning hours of May 3. At the scene, a 22-year-old woman reported that she had been assaulted in her apartment by a stranger wearing a mask.
The victim reportedly suffered cuts and bruises, and police noted physical indications that she had been strangled.
The victim told investigators that she had gotten up to get a snack during the night and was suddenly accosted by an intruder in her apartment. The victim stated that the intruder was shirtless and wearing a ski mask, and began to violently assault her.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the victim fought off her attacker, who fled the apartment, leaving a hat and pocketknife behind.
Police collected the items and forwarded them to the California Department of Justice forensic lab for DNA analysis.
Within a few weeks, the forensic lab reportedly returned a DNA match to Gutierrez-Gomez. Authorities further confirmed the DNA match against a sample Gutierrez-Gomez had provided during a separate booking just a few days prior to the alleged assault.
After obtaining an arrest warrant, Chico detectives located and arrested Gutierrez-Gomez without incident on June 11. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Gutierrez-Gomez lived at the same apartment complex as the victim.
During the arraignment, the judge granted District Attorney’s Office’s request to hold Gutierrez-Gomez in custody without bail based on the severity of the charges.
Gutierrez-Gomez was set to enter a plea during his next court appearance on June 18, but court records did not indicate whether he had done so.
If convicted as charged, Gutierrez-Gomez faces life in prison, the District Attorney’s Office said.
