Carson man pleads in overdose death of friend

A Carson City man pleaded guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter in the overdose death of a friend.

Anthony Guastella, 21, was initially charged with second-degree murder for being the go-between in a methadone sale for his friend Steven Xavier, 21.

On Feb. 18 at about 1 p.m. Xavier was found unresponsive by his mother in his Silver Oak apartment.

Sheriff's records indicated Xavier never regained consciousness and died at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center on March 2.

A roommate told investigators he had last seen Xavier at 10 p.m. the previous evening, and Xavier had told him he'd taken all eight pills. The roommate also said he was there when Xavier allegedly asked Guastella to get him the pills.

According to the police report, Guastella told investigators he and Xavier were good friends and he had on several occasions ignored Xavier's requests for pills, but he eventually agreed to get the pills.

Guastella allegedly drove to Reno and purchased the pills, then returned to Carson City and sold them to Xavier on Feb. 13, the report states.

Guastella will be sentenced Jan. 14.