‘Mountain Man’ Is Guilty in Kidnaping of Woman Athlete
“Mountain man” Don Nichols was convicted Friday of kidnaping, deliberate homicide and aggravated assault in the abduction of a woman athlete and the slaying of her would-be rescuer.
A Madison County District Court jury found Nichols, 54, guilty in the kidnaping of Kari Swenson, a member of the U.S. women’s biathlon team, an event combining cross-country skiing and riflery. He also was convicted of killing Alan Goldstein, a member of a search team, who found Nichols and his son, Dan, with Swenson in the mountains near Big Sky last summer.
Dan Nichols, 20, was convicted two months ago of kidnaping and misdemeanor assault and was acquitted in the slaying. He is free on bail pending sentencing.
Don Nichols faces up to 140 years in prison on the charges, but District Court Judge Frank Davis said that it would be at least a month before Nichols is sentenced.
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