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A Marshalltown man who had already been arrested in connection with a shots fired incident last month is now facing a series of even more serious charges -- including first degree kidnapping, a Class A felony -- over allegations that he strangled a victim, forced her into his camper, fired his weapon with the victim inside and proceeded to have sex with her against her will on March 29.
Joshua Thomas Warnell, 44, is charged with kidnapping first degree -- intentionally torture or subject to sexual abuse, a Class A felony, second degree sexual abuse, a Class B felony, intimidation with a dangerous weapon -- injure/provoke fear, a Class C felony, dominion/control of a firearm or offensive weapon by felon, assault while participating in a felony and going armed with intent, all Class D felonies and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor.
"Around the above date and time and given location, the defendant knowingly and willingly strangled the victim in a bedroom of the residence and would not allow the victim to leave the property. The defendant pointed a handgun at the victim and told her to enter his camper with him against her will," a criminal complaint reads. "Next to a witness, the defendant fired one round off outside by the camper that nearly struck the victim. This caused the victim to be 'scared.' The defendant then fired rounds off in the camper with the victim inside. The defendant did not strike the victim with the rounds. The defendant then forcibly removed the victim’s pants/underwear and had sex with her against her will while she resisted and he possessed the firearm. The described firearm used was recovered in a later incident."
He has been incarcerated at the Marshall County Jail since July 15 in connection with the shots fired incident that allegedly occurred that day, and he has pleaded not guilty to those charges with a trial currently set to begin on Sept. 29.
Warnell, a registered sex offender, is not eligible for any pretrial release or bond, according to court records, and hearing and trial dates in the new case have not yet been set. If convicted of a Class A felony, he will be required to serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole.