A Carson City man who pleaded guilty in November to involuntary manslaughter in the drug overdose death of a friend was sent to prison on Monday after receiving a drunken-driving conviction while on probation.
Anthony Guastella, 23, was initially charged with second-degree murder for being the go-between in a methadone sale for his friend Steven Xavier, 21.
While on probation for the manslaughter charge, Guastella was arrested May 30 on DUI and reckless driving charges. He pleaded guilty to second-offense DUI last week.
On Monday, Judge Todd Russell revoked Guastella's probation and sentenced him to serve his suspended prison sentence of 18 to 48 months.
In February 2007, Xavier was found unresponsive 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 drove to Reno and purchased the pills, then returned to Carson City and sold them to Xavier, the report states.
- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.
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