MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) - A central Iowa man awaiting sentencing on voluntary manslaughter and corpse abuse convictions now faces new charges following his testimony during trial that his methamphetamine use was partly to blame for his actions.
Jeremy Gartin, 30, of Marshalltown was recently charged with dealing drugs, carrying a firearm while dealing drugs and being a felon in possession of a gun, the Marshalltown Times Republican reported (https://bit.ly/1i3Z6Kt ) Saturday.
Gartin had been charged with first-degree murder in the Oct. 1 shooting death of David Warnell. Warnell’s fingers, teeth and patches of tattooed skin had been removed from his body when police found it in the basement of Gartin’s Marshalltown home.
A jury found Gartin guilty in December of the lesser crime of voluntary manslaughter, which carries a 10-year sentence, as well as abuse of a corpse and carrying a concealed weapon.
Police said Gartin shot Warnell in the head at close range with a .44 revolver following a drug deal dispute.
But Gartin testified during his trial that the shooting was accidental and that he was high on methamphetamines when he and another man came up with a plan to remove parts of Warnell’s body in an effort to keep it from being identified. Gartin also testified in open court to his involvement with methamphetamine sales, including a sale of more than 5 grams to Warnell the night of his death.
Gartin is set to be sentenced on the voluntary manslaughter and corpse abuse convictions on Monday.
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Information from: Times-Republican, https://www.timesrepublican.com
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