Lake Elsinore Man Accused of Terrorist Threats in Domestic Violence Incident

A Lake Elsinore man suspected of being drunk allegedly attacked his live-in girlfriend, and after deputies had investigated and left, the suspect returned to resume beating her, a sergeant said today.

Deputies were dispatched at 8 p.m. Saturday to a home in the 15200 block of Lake Terrace Drive in Lake Elsinore where Austin Gene Nikstad, 27, allegedly threatened his girlfriend during a drunken outburst. 

The man, who was out of jail on bail for alleged domestic abuse, reportedly threw things at her and grabbed her cell phone to keep her from calling for help, deputies said.

Nikstad fled the home before deputies arrived, Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. David Cardoza said.

But the moment deputies left, Nikstad returned and attacked his girlfriend a second time. Nikstad was arrested when deputies also returned.

They found a Mac-11 pistol, a 9 mm assault weapon, ammunition and brass knuckles at the home, Cardoza said.

Nikstad was booked for suspicion of several felonies including making terrorist threats, possession of an assault weapon and infliction of corporal injury on a spouse. He remained jailed today in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to jail records.

On Sept. 9, Nikstad had been arrested for possessing an assault weapon and spousal abuse, jail records showed. He posted bail and was released the next day.