Full Notification

On November 6th, 2014, the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office was made aware of a domestic violence assault that occurred on Halloween, 2014.

Sheriff's detectives contacted the female victim, who reportedly received a gunshot injury to her back during an attack from her boyfriend, during the Halloween incident. It appears that the suspect, Nickolas Kjeldergaard (24 yrs. old) of Mariposa, became angry toward the victim and demanded that she meet with him.  Reportedly, Kjeldergaard threatened the victim 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, Mariposa County.  Reportedly during this meeting, Kjeldergaard fired several gunshots into the victim’s vehicle striking her at least one time in the back. Reportedly, the victim was fearful to report the incident to law enforcement because she was afraid of retaliation from Kjeldergaard.

In the early morning hours on November 7^th, 2014, 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.  Kjeldergaard was arrested without incident. 

Kjeldergaard is being booked into the Mariposa County Adult Detention Facility for violation of Penal Code section 664-187 - Attempted Murder. 

His bail has been set at $1,000,000. 

Upon serving the search warrant, an illegal marijuana drug operation was also located.  An additional investigation into the marijuana operation has been initiated.  An additional suspect, Jerrod Lancaster-Ames of North Carolina was taken into custody in connection with the drug operation. He is being booked for Cultivation of Marijuana with Intent to Sell and Conspiracy. His bail is set at $100,000.