St. James man gets 15 years in prison for DWI homicide

A 32-year-old man from St. James has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for murder and four years in prison for his third DWI.

Robert Garn was the driver in a one-car accident on Oct. 16, 2013. He was driving a Ford Ranger, which overturned multiple times on Route CC in Rolla. His passenger, Rachel Warren, was airlifted from the scene and later died in the hospital.

An EMT tending to Garn at the scene smelled alcohol on him, and he was tested at PCRMC. Tests found that his blood alcohol content was .159 percent, which is twice the legal limit.

“Garn made the decision to drive drunk that night and now Rachel Warren is dead,” said Phelps County Prosecuting Attorney, Brendon Fox.

“I take no joy in the fact that Garn will be spending the next 15 years in prison away from his wife and small children.”

Garn pleaded guilty June 21 to felony murder and DWI.