Rexford man sentenced for partner assault

A Rexford man who pleaded to assaulting his girlfriend and threatening her with a gun was sentenced Monday in Lincoln County District Court.

Nickolas Miko Sims, 38, entered a no contest plea Nov. 25 to felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanor partner or family member assault.

Judge Matt Cuffe stuck with the terms of the plea deal, giving Sims a three-year deferred term on the endangerment charge and one year with all but 24 hours suspended for the assault. The sentences will be served concurrently. He was also ordered to pay $500 in fines.

Attorney Ryan Peabody asked that Sims be allowed to have contact with his young daughter, who now lives in Alabama with family.

According to the narrative by county deputy Scott Welchons, at 7 a.m. on Aug. 10, 2024, he learned from dispatch about an assault that occurred the prior evening.

The victim, who has a 2-year-old child with Sims, spoke to Welchons. He said she was still crying and questioned why officers didn’t show up sooner.

Welchons confirmed she and her child were safe. The victim said she was at her “mother-in-law’s” house at 5118 West Kootenai Road, which was on the same property as the cabin where she and Sims reside.

She told the deputy she was sleeping on the couch when Sims started “poking her really hard” to wake her up. She said he takes care of their daughter during the day and feels she should watch the child in the evening. She also said Sims drinks a lot, “is an alcoholic” and was intoxicated. She said he was slapping her before they ended up on the ground fighting.

The victim continued describing the incident, saying Sims grabbed a gun, loaded it and cocked it in her direction, but didn’t point it directly at her. She said he also threatened her, saying, “you better be careful you (profanity) (profanity) several times.” She said she had video of the event, too.

She said she was able to get out of the house with her daughter and went to the main house where she caller her mother and 911. She said she would like to leave, but wasn’t sure if she can because it’s very difficult. 

When Welchons asked her if she was safe or needed medical attention, she said she was safe and didn’t need medical help.

A few hours later, she called Welchons and told him she was able to pack some things for her and her child and was heading to her parent’s house, but was still crying and upset.

In 2018, Sims got a six-month suspended sentence for DUI.