Convicted killer of Chris Bagley pleads guilty to being a drug user in possession of a firearm

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Marion man convicted in July 2021 of the second-degree murder of Chris Bagley of Walker has pleaded guilty in federal court to being a drug user in possession of a firearm.

Drew Blahnik, who changed his name to Johnny Blahnik Church after his murder conviction, pleaded guilty to the firearms charge Monday. He faces up to 10 years in prison without the possibility of parole.

A sentencing date has not yet been set.

In court documents, he still is referred to as Drew Blahnik.

According to the federal indictment, Blahnik was accused of being an unlawful user of cocaine and methamphetamine and possessing a Glock .40-caliber handgun and multiple rounds of ammunition Feb. 25, 2019. Authorities found the items at his Marion apartment.

Blahnik is already serving up to 57 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Bagley in December 2018.

Blahnik, who claimed self-defense in the Bagley killing, was convicted by a Linn County jury of second-degree murder, obstruction of prosecution and abuse of a corpse. He stabbed Bagley, 31, of Walker, 13 times in the neck and torso.

Drew Wagner, who agreed to testify against Blahnik as part of a plea deal, said Blahnik stabbed and killed Bagley because Bagley had robbed Andrew Shaw of drugs and money. Shaw, who was not charged in Bagley’s slaying, is in federal prison after being convicted of being a large-scale marijuana trafficker in Cedar Rapids.

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