A former dental practice employee in Illinois accused of stealing over $500,000 from her employer pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial on November 17, according to multiple news stories.
Rebecca Gutierrez, 49, allegedly took between $500,000 and $1 million from Hastings and Havlik Dentistry in Mattoon, IL, between June 2020 and September 2025.
It was her second court appearance. Gutierrez's detention hearing was held in October, during which she was granted pretrial release from custody after surrendering her passport. Also at that hearing, Gutierrez was ordered not to liquidate her 401(k), retirement, or similar account funds, according to the stories.
After the practice learned that Gutierrez was allegedly stealing money from one of the dentists, she was terminated from her position, according to the stories.
She is expected to be back in court in January.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
