Cedar Rapids man testifies his differing statements to police didn’t mean he was untruthful

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man, under cross examination, admitted he initially wasn’t truthful to police about the fatal stabbing of Chris Bagley in 2018 because he was scared.

A lawyer for Andrew Shaw, who is on trial for first-degree murder, repeatedly asked Drew Wagner if Shaw — accused of hiring Wagner and Johnny Blahnik Church, formerly known as Drew Blahnik, to kill Bagley — was part of any planning or was in the mobile home during the early morning of Dec. 14, 2018 when Bagley, 31, of Walker was fatally stabbed 13 times.

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Wagner said Shaw wasn’t at the scene of the murder and didn’t plan it, but Shaw offered Blahnik Church money and drugs to carry it out. Wagner initially thought Blahnik Church was only going to assault Bagley, so his differing statements over the years — which didn’t mention a hire-to-kill scheme to police investigators — wasn’t him being untruthful. He said it depended on perspective.

At one point, while Johnson County Public Defender Peter Persaud was going over Wagner’s plea agreement, which allowed him to avoid the possibility of a life sentence, Wagner had to stop his testimony because he was crying.

Wagner was originally charged with first-degree murder, but pleaded to voluntary manslaughter and other charges. He was sentenced to 47 years, which included two unrelated charges.

In addition to first-degree murder, Shaw, 37, of Cedar Rapids, also is charged with solicitation to commit murder and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony. He is accused of hiring Blahnik Church, 38, of Marion and Wagner, 39, to kill Bagley, according to a criminal complaint.

Wagner held Bagley while Blahnik Church fatally stabbed him during the brutal attack, according to testimony.

Blahnik Church is serving 57 years for second-degree murder in this case and another assault. Another man, Paul Hoff, 46, was sentenced to two years for obstruction of prosecution in Bagley’s murder.

The prosecution will continue its case Wednesday in Linn County District Court.

Wagner said he was involved in Bagley’s murder because of Blahnik Church. He was a good friend to Blahnik Church, but Blahnik Church didn’t return that friendship. Wagner said he “hated” him.

Persaud said when Shaw and Blahnik Church discussed harming Bagley, which Wagner said he overheard, it wasn’t like a contract or formal business agreement the two made.

Wagner agreed. He also said he didn’t hear the entire conversation.

Persaud asked if Shaw’s friendship with Bagley continued, even after Bagley robbed and assaulted Shaw. Wagner agreed.

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Persaud questioned Wagner about his involvement in the burial of Bagley, which Wagner denied during his testimony and to investigators. The body was put in the bed of Wagner’s pickup truck and Blahnik Church and Hoff buried it days later in Wagner’s yard, which Wagner said was true.

Wagner said he knows his testimony about Blahnik Church driving to Wisconsin to attend an “acting conference or audition” and then driving back to Iowa to bury the body eight days later seems “unfathomable,” but that’s what happened.

Persaud pointed out that the truck had an open bed and only wood was placed on top of Bagley’s body, which was wrapped in plastic. It was exposed for days while Blahnik Church parked at hotels and parking ramps, Persaud said.

Wagner said that’s what happened.

On redirect exam, Wagner said he didn’t tell the truth in many of the interviews with investigators because he was scared something would happen to him and his family. He was more forthcoming with information after Blahnik Church was arrested.

In other testimony

In other testimony Tuesday, Wagner’s friend and concrete business partner Dan Kascel testified that on Dec. 14, 2018 Wagner had a toolbox containing THC cartridges and manila envelopes with cash, similar to what Wagner said Shaw gave him to give to Blahnik Church after the killing.

Kascel said he received $1,200 or $1,500 — not connected to Bagley’s murder — but he thought Blahnik Church received more because his envelope was thicker.

Kascel wasn’t charged in Bagley’s fatal stabbing and testified Tuesday under a promise of immunity by the prosecution.

Kascel testified he saw ground warmers by Wagner’s garage in December 2018 or January 2019. Wagner told Kascel he was going to put concrete in that area and needed the ground warmers because the ground was frozen. Kascel said that seemed unusual.

Wagner previously testified that he had rented ground warming equipment because he wanted to dig up Bagley’s body after Blahnik Church and Hoff buried it in his yard.

On cross, Kascel admitted he didn’t see the exchange of money from Wagner to Blahnik Church — only the envelope.

Kascel also testified that his opinion of Wagner was that he was never truthful.

Paul Hoff, 46, started his testimony at the end of the day Wednesday, and the prosecution only got through his lengthy criminal history. He admitted to being in prison most of his adult life — about 27 or 28 years. Most of his crimes were for burglaries, thefts, drugs and firearms.

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Hoff is currently serving a federal sentence for drugs and firearms. He has served seven years of a 14-year sentence. He was arrested and charged in federal court pending misdemeanor charges in this case.

Hoff has been in the court system since he was 11 years old. He was at the Iowa State Training School twice and his first prison term was in 2000 in Oklahoma for possession with intent to deliver marijuana. He served 11 years for that drug conviction. He has escaped from halfway houses more than once when given probation.

Hoff said his federal conviction has changed him. He has more than one job in prison, including cleaning a prison official’s office, and has participated in many programs, trying to better himself. Hoff, who admitted he was an addict when he went to prison, said he hasn’t had any disciplinary issues and isn’t taking drugs, which are readily available in prison, he said.

He will continue his testimony Wednesday.

Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com