The former Mayor of Yakima, Avina Cristal Gutierrez, was released from custody Friday. She is awaiting trial on charges that she burglarized her own mother’s home.
The Yakima County Superior Court Judge Richard Bartheld ordered Gutierrez, who now lives on the west side of the state, to not leave the state and have no contact with her mother.
She has been ordered to check in with court staff as part of the pre-trial release program.
Police say Gutierrez was taken into custody in Redmond on October 15, Thursday without incident, and was taken to Yakima the next morning.
Avina Gutierrez is charged with breaking into her mother’s Yakima home and stealing more than $30,000 worth of items, according to court documents.
Police were called to the home of Luz Gutierrez around 10:30 a.m. Oct. 2. Luz Gutierrez had come home the previous afternoon and noticed a light on in the house, and she found that art and other items were missing, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by Yakima police.
A neighbor told Luz Gutierrez that he saw her daughter at the house with a rental truck earlier that day, the affidavit said.
Avina Gutierrez used to live at the house but moved out several years ago and was believed to be living in Renton, Luz Gutierrez told officers, the affidavit said.
The neighbor told police that he saw Avina Gutierrez make multiple trips between the house and the rental truck.
Defense attorney Beth Wehrkamp said the police account of what happened “is not what it seems.” She said there was a misunderstanding and a “Mommy, dearest” moment, whatever that may mean.
