MARIPOSA – A Mariposa man is behind bars after reportedly firing a gun into his girlfriend’s vehicle.
On Nov. 6, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a domestic violence assault that occurred on Halloween. Sheriff’s detectives then contacted the female victim, who reportedly received a gunshot injury to her back during an attack by her boyfriend during the Halloween incident.
It appears that the suspect, Nickolas Kjeldergaard, 24, of Mariposa, became angry with the victim and demanded that she meet with him, according to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office. Kjeldergaard reportedly told her that if she did not meet with him, he would murder her and her family.
During the evening of Halloween, the victim drove her vehicle to meet with Kjeldergaard near Lush Meadows in Mariposa County. During this meeting, Kjeldergaard reportedly fired several gunshots into the victim’s vehicle striking her at least one time in the back. Apparently the victim was fearful to report the incident to law enforcement because she was afraid of retaliation from Kjeldergaard.
In the early morning hours of Nov. 7, Mariposa County Sheriff’s deputies, assisted by the Yosemite National Park Service Special Response Team (SRT Unit), executed search and arrest warrants for Kjeldergaard and his property.
Kjeldergaard, along with others, were contacted at the residence, and he was arrested without incident.
Kjeldergaard was booked into the Mariposa County Adult Detention Facility for violation of Penal Code section 664-187 – Attempted Murder. His bail has been set at $1 million.
Upon serving the search warrant, deputies also located an illegal marijuana drug operation. An additional investigation into the marijuana operation has been initiated, and Jerrod Lancaster-Ames, of North Carolina, was taken into custody in connection with the drug activity.
Lancaster-Ames has been booked for Cultivation of Marijuana with Intent to Sell, and Conspiracy. His bail is set at $100,000.
