Jury finds Worthington man not guilty of child abuse

Aug. 28--WORTHINGTON -- A Worthington man accused of assaulting a toddler was acquitted by a jury last week in Nobles County District Court.

Following a three-day trial for Edgar Gutierrez-Munoz, 26, a jury decided the state failed to prove without a reasonable doubt that Gutierrez-Munoz had assaulted a child younger than 4 while he watched him last May.

The initial investigation included observations and medical treatment of the victim's face, which was reportedly swollen with a partially deformed and bloody nose. He also suffered significant bruising. A physician called the injuries "highly suggestive" of child abuse. Gutierrez-Munoz said the child had fallen twice.

Gutierrez-Munoz was charged with two counts of third-degree assault as well as malicious punishment of a child under 4 years old (each felonies); and misdemeanor domestic assault.

According to court documents, one of the third-degree assault charges and the domestic assault charged were dropped, and he stood trial on the other two counts.

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