Warnell

A Marshalltown man with an extensive criminal history was arrested Wednesday and charged with a total of seven criminal counts, including four felonies, after he allegedly fired a gun during an argument at a residence on East Church Street.

According to a criminal complaint from the Marshalltown Police Department, Joshua Thomas Warnell, 44, got into a verbal argument with the alleged victim before leaving to go to a friend’s house, showing back up and arguing with the victim again, pulling out a purple .22 caliber pistol from his pocket, pointing it at the floor and discharging it. The cost to fix the bullet hole is estimated at $400.

“The incident was observed by multiple witnesses in the direct vicinity of the defendant, placing the witnesses and victim in reasonable apprehension of serious injury. The victim later identified the pistol as being a purple .22 caliber pistol. The victim and the victim’s mother, who was present at the time of the incident, were visibly upset from the incident,” the complaint reads.

Warnell has been charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon — injure/provoke fear, a Class C felony, going armed with intent, dominion/control of firearm or offensive weapon by a felon and assault while participating in a felony, all Class D felonies, use of dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime, an aggravated misdemeanor, and interference with official acts — bodily injury and fourth degree criminal mischief, both serious misdemeanors.

Warnell, a registered sex offender whose prior convictions in Marshall County include indecent contact with a child, theft, controlled substance violations and sex offender registration violations, is being held in the Marshall County Jail without bond, and a preliminary hearing is set for July 24 at 9:30 a.m.