A 19-year-old being held as a material witness in a murder investigation has pleaded guilty to an unrelated fourth-degree theft charge.

Justin Marshall of Iowa City reportedly brought a counterfeit FedEx payroll check of nearly $500 to El Paso Grocery, 601 Hollywood Blvd., in August 2009. He is required to pay restitution equal to the amount of the counterfeit check

Marshall is also being held as a material witness to the death of John Versypt, the landlord of Broadway Condominiums. Charles W.C. Thompson was arrested in that case on Feb. 11.

— by Sam Lane