A Newton man accused of pointing a loaded handgun at a pregnant woman in front of her two children has been given a suspended seven year prison sentence and three years of probation. Newton Police say after pointing the gun at the victim, 31-year-old Nathan James Nelson threw the handgun across the room. Two children, a three year old and an eight year old, were present at the time. The criminal complaint also says Nelson had put his hands around the woman’s neck during an argument two days earlier, and her neck was still red.

Nelson pleaded guilty to Domestic Assault Impeding Air Flow Causing Bodily Injury, a Class D felony, and two counts of Child Endangerment, Aggravated Misdemeanors. District Associate Judge Steven Holwerda imposed a suspended five year prison term on the Domestic Assault charge and two suspended two year prison sentences for the Child Endangerment counts, with all three terms to run consecutively. Three years probation were ordered on each charge, and Nelson has to pay $2,735 in fines and undergo substance abuse and psychological evaluations. Two other charges were dismissed. They were Domestic Assault on a Pregnant Person Strangulation, a Class D felony, and Domestic Assault 1st Offense with a Dangerous Weapon, an Aggravated Misdemeanor.,