Man could become state's witness in case

SANDPOINT - A Sandpoint man accused of attempting to intimidate a witness in a Ponderay stabbing case was released on his own recognizance Wednesday.

The felony witness intimidation charge against Nicholas Julles Douglas will be dropped if he testifies against the two men accused of stabbing and beating the 48-year-old man on Feb. 29.

“Once he testifies, I will dismiss it,” Bonner County Prosecutor Phil Robinson told Judge Barbara Buchanan on Thursday.

Under the agreement, Douglas would testify against Adam Rew Carash and Timothy Grant “Bear” Larson at preliminary hearings scheduled for later this month.

Carash, 27, and Larson, 29, both of Sandpoint, are each charged with aggravated battery. The alleged victim told Ponderay Police Carash stabbed him during a late-night confrontation in the 500 block of Cedar Street. The man also identified Larson as an assailant and witnesses said he joined in the attack after the man was on the ground.

The victim in the case survived the attack. What provoked the incident has not been disclosed.

Nichols, also 27, is accused of going to the victim's home the day after the attack to find out if he intended to pursue criminal charges against Carash and Larson. The state alleges Nichols warned the man there would be consequences if Carash and Larson were imprisoned as a result of the altercation.

Charging papers allege Nichols exposed a swastika tattoo on his abdomen to the victim, who is black.

Nichols, according to a KPND-FM news report, said the discussion he had with the victim is being misconstrued and that he went to the home as a show of solidarity for the man.