Photo: Steven Mark Niziol
Steven Mark Niziol recently sentenced to 20 years in prison on drug-related charges was given five more during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday. He pled guilty to attacking a Gassvile man and threatening to kill a reserve deputy sheriff working in the county jail.
The 32-year-old Niziol of Mountain Home, who made his court appearance dressed in the white uniform of the state prison system, has been in trouble both inside and outside of jails and prisons for more than a decade. His criminal history stretches back to 2006. The drug charges to which he recently pled guilty were contained in the oldest of four open criminal cases.
Niziol’s most serious charges were based on his alleged participation in an attack May 21 leaving a Gassville man with extensive injuries. He was originally charged with aggravated robbery, kidnapping, residential burglary and theft of property. The state reduced some of those charges and dismissed others.
The alleged attack on the Gassville man left the victim with contusions and abrasions about his neck, face and head, loose teeth, pain in his rib cage area and a loss of hearing in his left ear. Medical personnel on the scene recommended he go to the hospital, but he declined because he did not have health insurance.
The victim told police he had been working in his backyard when he went into his residence to take a short break. It was then he said two men jumped him. He also reported seeing a female he knew exit his bedroom carrying his .22-caliber rifle and ammunition for the gun.
The suspects made the victim empty his pockets and took his wallet and personal valuables. They were said to have been discussing a debt the victim allegedly owed. The victim said none of the people had permission to be on his property.
At one point, the victim told investigators he was put into a shed on the property, and while one of the males stood guard, the other male and the female hooked up a trailer he owned to the vehicle the trio drove to his residence. The Gassville man said alleged items of his property were loaded onto the trailer.
Before the suspects left the man’s house, they were reported to have warned him if he told anyone about what had happened, they would return and kill him with his own rifle.
During the investigation, Niziol, 19-year-old Jonathan Smith Jr. and 33-year-old Jessica Wuest were all named as suspects. Niziol was arrested by a Mountain Home Police officer, after a traffic stop June 16. Smith was picked up a few days later. Wuest was jailed Aug. 6.
Photo: Jonathan Smith Jr.
In addition, the mid-June traffic stop resulted in new charges being filed against NIziol, including possession of methamphetamine.
Wuest has pled not guilty to the charges filed against her stemming from the Gassville attack. She is due to reappear in circuit court in early December. Earlier this month, Smith pled guilty to reduced charges related to the assault and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with six to serve and four suspended, and a judicial transfer to one of the Community Correction Centers in the state where he will undergo addiction treatment.
Photo: Jessica Wuest
The state dropped the most serious charges filed against Smith stemming from the alleged assault on the Gassville victim. Prosecutors said information developed during the investigation showed Smith was more involved in the theft of property from the victim’s house than the beating. Niziol was identified as bearing major responsibility for the physical attack.
Niziol’s threat to the reserve deputy in the county jail came Aug. 1. He was reported to have become “irate and disruptive,” after appearing on a video hookup between the jail and court complex. According to the probable cause affidavit, Niziol became upset when he did not get his way with the terms of a plea agreement offered by the state.
He threatened to kill the reserve deputy assisting with the video court appearances, after the deputy incurred Niziol’s wrath when he told the inmate to get back where he belonged. Niziol had left his assigned area to talk to female inmates. When Niziol disobeyed the order, the reserve deputy said he placed his hands on him with enough force to get him away from the females.
Niziol is alleged to have yelled, “I will kill you. You won’t put your hands on a grown man like me anymore.” Jail staff said Niziol continued to yell death threats under the door after he was locked down.
The county jail is not the only lockup where Niziol has had a problem. During stays in the state prison system, he has been written up for a number of disciplinary violation, including battery, threats to inflict injury, insolence to a staff member and failure to obey orders. He is an inmate in the North Central Unit at Calico Rock.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI