|Big Radio News|
The 34-year-old Beloit man accused of barreling through barricades into a crowd of people celebrating Oktoberfest last September will spend five years behind bars.
According to online court records Gaudencio Cruz-Gutierrez plead guilty Wednesday afternoon to second-degree recklessly endangering safety. Two additional counts of bail jumping were dismissed but read into the record.
In addition the prison time, Rock County Judge Jeffrey Kuglitsch ordered Cruz-Gutierrez to serve five years of extended supervision when he gets out.
Police say several people had to dive out of the way when Cruz Gutierrez crashed through a barrier and into a crowd. Nobody was hurt.
42-year-old Curtis Metz of Orangeville, Illinois was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of driving into the Grand Lighted Parade in Beloit in 2019.
38-year-old Anthony Benson of South Beloit was sentenced to a year of probation after pleading no contest to negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Police say he drove through barricades and into a crowd at Eclipse Center Street and Eclipse Boulevard during 4th of July festivities. One person was injured during that incident.
