Tucson couple receives probation in child abuse case

By Gloria Knott

ATucson couple was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to child abuse of their children, officials say.

Benito and Carol Gutierrez will each serve 12 years of probation, which is four years for each count of child abuse, said a spokeswoman from the Pima County Attorney's Office.

The Gutierrezes aren't able to have contact with the children. They also can't have contact with other minors without authorized supervision. 

Investigators said the Gutierrezes kept their four adopted children locked in their bedrooms for a minimum of 12 hours at a time. They didn't have access to food, water, or a bathroom, Arizona Daily Star archives show. 

In February, one of the children went to a local store and asked to use the phone to call a relative, archives show. An employee thought the boy looked disheveled and walked him home because it was dark outside and traffic was busy. 

When arriving to the home, the boy said he didn't want to go in through the front door. Through a window in the house, the employee saw a lock on a bedroom door. 

The boy said he had to use the window to get in and out of the house, archives show. 

The employee called 911. Officials said the bedroom doors were padlocked and the rooms only had mattresses inside. 

Contact reporter Gloria Knott at gknott@tucson.com or 573-4235. On Twitter: @gloriaeknott