Renville Man Sentenced for 2021 Murder

(Learfield News/Olivia, MN) — A Renville County judge has sentenced 29-year-old Julian Valdez of Renville to nearly 11.5 years in prison for the 2021 shooting death of Pablo Gutierrez.

Valdez was initially convicted in 2022, but the Minnesota Supreme Court ordered a new trial after ruling the jury received incorrect instructions. He was reconvicted of second-degree murder this spring.

Valdez was given credit for nearly 3 years he spent behind bars.

According to court records, Gutierrez confronted Valdez and his stepbrother over a prior dispute at Valdez’s home in August 2021. The tension eased as the men drank and played pool, but later escalated when Gutierrez attacked Valdez’s stepbrother and was shot.