Judge grants ‘golden opportunity’ to man with assault conviction

Nims sentenced to probation, anger management classes

A Nevada man who was convicted of aggravated assault after he allegedly threatened another driver with a crowbar following a car crash in Post Falls was sentenced Tuesday to three years probation and anger management classes.

A Coeur d’Alene judge told Nicholas A. Nims that he scared the occupants of the other car so much that the driver felt compelled to protect himself by drawing a handgun and pointing it at Nims.

Judge Cynthia K.C. Meyer told Nims that the victims wrote a letter to report how they had been affected by Nims’ threats.

“For you to pull out a tire iron and threaten them the way you did was uncalled for,” Meyer said.

The First District judge acknowledged that Nims had no prior criminal record and that his emotional instability may have been age-related.

“You do have some growing up to do,” Meyer said.

Meyer granted a withheld judgment, which would erase Nims’ conviction if he successfully completes probation.

The judge ordered that Nims complete an anger management course and 50 hours community service.

Nims was 18 years old in October when the incident occurred on 16th Avenue in Post Falls just east of Highway 41.

Witnesses said Nims, the passenger in a black Mercedes Benz, leaped from the vehicle after the noninjury crash, grabbed a crowbar from the trunk and threatened Wyatt Thanstrom, 24, who drove a Jeep.

Thanstrom said Nims yelled profanities and tried to fight him. Nims dragged a crowbar from the car and swung it at Thanstrom from 10 feet away, yelling racial epithets.

Nims ran away after Thanstrom drew a 9 mm Glock, pointed it at Nims and told him to back off, Thanstrom said.

Thanstrom said Nims was angry because he didn’t have car insurance.

Meyer said the withheld judgment allowed Nims the opportunity to change his life.

“It’s a golden opportunity,” Meyer said.