Lang
12/7/19
A trial date has been set for a rural Riverside man accused in an Iowa City home invasion and sexual assault.
33-year-old Nikolas Petersen of 170th Street appeared before Judge Andrew Chappell on Friday. He pleaded not guilty to charges of 1st Degree Burglary, 2nd Degree Sexual Abuse, Domestic Abuse Assault Impeding Airflow, Child Endangerment and a No Contact Order Violation. Chappell set a trial date for February 4th. A case management conference is scheduled for January 10th.
Iowa City Police say the alleged victim had a no-contact order against Petersen through November of 2020. The order came after Petersen allegedly entered the woman’s home on Mission Point Road without permission last August, beat her and endangered her now 11-month-old child.
According to arrest records, Petersen entered the woman’s residence without permission again just after 3:30 the morning of November 16th, beat her and sexually assaulted her. Police say Petersen also held a knife to the woman’s throat and threatened to kill her. He allegedly grabbed the woman’s child while still holding the knife.
The woman was treated for her injuries at a local hospital.
If convicted on all charges stemming from the November 16th incident, Petersen faces a maximum of 57 years in prison. He faces a maximum of over 12 years in prison if convicted for the previous incident. A case management conference on those charges is set for December 20th.
