A Trailhead Argument That Escalated Into Felony Charges
As cowboystatedaily.com reported, an Idaho resident is facing a prison sentence of up to 10 years following an incident where Teton County deputies used a ruse to prompt his surrender; authorities state he trapped his girlfriend against the driver’s-side door of his automobile, dragged her along the pavement while continuously striking her in the face, and subsequently attempted to run her down.
The felony aggravated assault charge, alongside misdemeanor counts of domestic battery and failure to stop for an accident involving property damage, was addressed during the Monday court debut of Yair Guarneros, who was born in 2005. According to an affidavit of probable cause prepared by Teton County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kevin Espinoza, the accusations arise from a Saturday evening dispute between the pair near the Fox Creek Canyon Road trailhead close to Alta, Wyoming.
Having maintained a relationship for four years, the pair arrived at the location in separate cars and initiated a verbal dispute. What their confrontation was about isn’t detailed in the affidavit. The argument turned physical when Guarneros tried to drive off with the woman blocking his door open.
Guarneros placed the vehicle in drive, causing the door to close on her, pinning her between the door and the vehicle.
The affidavit notes that instead of halting to let the victim free from the door, Guarneros continued to drive forward while striking her through the driver’s window. During this sequence, she tipped forward, remaining grasped by Guarneros while the automobile dragged her along the earth. Guarneros eventually halted the vehicle and proceeded to strike her, prompting the victim to fight back defensively.
How Deputies Lured the Suspect Back to the Scene
The alleged assault didn’t stop there, Deputy Espinoza wrote in the affidavit. Following the moment Guarneros let her go and as she headed toward her own car, he allegedly reversed his vehicle directly into her automobile in an apparent attempt to strike her. While she tried opening the door on the driver’s side, Guarneros backed his automobile into her before driving away from the location.
When deputies reached the area around 7:52 p.m., the suspect had already departed, leaving officers to interview the victim about the events and document multiple injuries that aligned with her account. Dirt caked her attire, matching her assertion of being dragged by the automobile, and tire tracks at the site suggested Guarneros had backed up swiftly and directly toward her in an effort to strike her.
During their conversation, the victim mentioned to deputies her suspicion that her keys had landed inside Guarneros’ car during the dragging incident. Law enforcement capitalized on this detail to draw the suspect back, instructing his girlfriend to phone him and request the return of her keys. Deputy Espinoza directed the woman to ask Guarneros to bring her keys back to the location, keeping him unaware that police had been notified.
After initially claiming he did not possess the keys, he subsequently located them and consented to return them to her. By approximately 10 p.m., or 2200 hours, Guarneros returned to the location and laid the keys atop her vehicle, completely unaware that officers were lying in wait.
Court Appearance and Upcoming Hearings
Guarneros, who lists a residential address in Idaho Falls alongside a post office box located in Jackson, is currently detained on a $10,000 surety or cash bond. A preliminary hearing is set for November 4 in Teton County Circuit Court. Should he be found guilty of felony aggravated assault, the offense carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years behind bars, a financial penalty reaching $10,000, or a combination of both punishments.
