Nicholas Codie Nelson booking photo from the Cache County Jail.
LOGAN — A 23-year-old Logan man has been sentenced to two months in jail for threatening a woman with a gun and saying he wanted to get in a shootout with law enforcement. Nicholas Codie Nelson acknowledged that what he had done was wrong and was trying to change.
Nelson was sentenced Monday, Nov. 20, in Logan’s 1st District Court. He previously accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to aggravated assault, third-degree felony; assault, a class A misdemeanor; and carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence, a class B misdemeanor.
According to prosecutors, Logan City Police officers were called to a domestic dispute June 14. Witnesses said Nelson was seen fighting with his girlfriend. He was carrying a firearm and appeared to be extremely intoxicated.
The victim said Nelson grabbed the back of her shirt, ripped off a necklace and choked her. He was hitting a table and breaking items, threatening to kill her and her family. He also made comments about shooting any law enforcement who arrived at the residence.
When the woman tried to call for help, Nelson grabbed her phone to prevent her from using it, court records stated.
While investigating the dispute, police learned that Nelson had threatened to shoot the alleged victim previously. The woman said he placed the muzzle of the firearm against her face during a similar incident in April. She showed officers a photo of an “imprinted ring just underneath her lip” and said it was from the gun’s muzzle.
Police questioned Nelson, who admitted to having the firearm and pressing it against the victim’s face. He claimed to be very upset with the woman at the time.
During Monday’s sentencing hearing, Judge Spencer Walsh ordered Nelson to have no contact with the victim, saying their relationship was “toxic.” He sentenced the defendant to 60 days in jail, followed by 36 months probation.
Nelson told the court he had dealt with trauma as a child. He explained how he was now attending therapy.
Judge Walsh said the court will not tolerate domestic and gun violence. He expressed hope that this would be a turning point in Nelson’s life.