Cedar Rapids trial for Chris Bagley murder postponed again

Andrew Shaw's trial has been postponed until June 10

CEDAR RAPIDS — The murder trial of a Cedar Rapids man accused of hiring two men to kill Chris Bagley in 2018 has been postponed again due to scheduling conflicts for the arraignment.

The trial of 36-year-old Andrew Thomas Shaw was postponed to February 4 last month because his lawyers needed more time to prepare for trial. However, this date contradicted the prosecution's caseload in other murder trials.

David Cox of the Sixth Judicial District said in his order he would postpone the trial until June 10, as requested by prosecutors.

Shaw waived his right to a speedy trial

Shaw is charged with first-degree murder, solicitation to commit murder and conspiracy to commit a crime of violence. He was charged a year ago – last October – in the fatal stabbing of 31-year-old Chris Bagley of Walker after he was released from a federal prison sentence for marijuana trafficking in Cedar Rapids.

Shaw is accused of aiding and abetting Drew Wagner, 39, and Johnny Blahnik Church, 37, formerly known as Drew Blahnik – both convicted of Bagley's fatal knife attack – between Oct. 1, 2018 and Feb. 20, 2019, according to the complaint.

The complaint said Shaw hired the two men to kill Bagley and paid them for the crime.

Shaw remains in jail on $2 million bail pending trial.

Blahnik Church is serving 57 years in prison for the killing of Bagley and is also serving a sentence for assaulting another inmate at the Linn County Jail.

Wagner, who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, assault in the course of a felony, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, abuse of a corpse and hindering prosecution, was sentenced to 47 years in prison.

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