Formal charging delayed in Battle Ground murder case

A court agreed to reschedule the arraignment for a man held on suspicion of killing a 3-year-old Battle Ground boy for June 14.

Prosecutors earlier filed charges of first-degree domestic violence murder and second-degree domestic violence assault for Ricardo Gutierrez, 39, who allegedly beat and stabbed Jose “Pepe” Castillo-Cisneros to death May 23 at their home in Battle Ground.

Gutierrez’s attorney, Edward Dunkley, asked County Superior Court Judge Dan Stahnke to waive Gutierrez’s right to a speedy arraignment, opting to delay proceedings until they can be brought before Clark County Superior Court Judge Robert Lewis, who is the presiding judge in the case.

Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Tony Golik, who is taking the case himself, had no objections, and Stahnke agreed. Lewis is the case’s presiding judge, but other judges may handle some procedural matters.

Gutierrez’s arraignment, when he’ll be formally charged, was set for 9 a.m. June 14.

Court records say Gutierrez, who was not the boy’s father, attacked the boy when the 3-year-old became upset over the choice of a movie he didn’t want to watch.

The assault charge stems from injuries the boy’s mother sustained while trying to stop Gutierrez, police said.