Man denies robbing tourist at gunpoint

A St. Ignatius man pleaded not guilty in Lake County Justice Court to multiple accounts of robbery and assault with a weapon. 

A 27-year-old St. Ignatius man has denied robbing multiple people, including a German tourist at gunpoint this summer. 

Nicholai Assiniboine pleaded not guilty to two counts of felony robbery and assault with a weapon in Lake County District court last week.  

According to an affidavit, on Aug. 1 Assiniboine entered a residence in Charlo and told a male occupant he was there to steal his “drugs and stuff.” When the man said he had just been robbed the night before, Assiniboine allegedly produced an AK-47 assault rifle and ordered the man to strip naked. Assiniboine allegedly left with the man’s clothing and wallet. Then on Aug. 31, a German national reported that he had been camping on Mission Dam Road when two men, one of whom was later identified as Assiniboine, entered his camp. According to the affidavit, Assiniboine asked the camper if he had a permit for using the area. Assiniboine allegedly grabbed a gun and ordered the man to pay him $500. Feeling threatened by the action, the German national fled the area but left his camera behind, which Assiniboine then took, the affidavit states.  

During Assiniboine’s arraignment Lake County District Court Judge James A. Manley expressed concern at the charges, specifically the alleged theft of the camera.  

“It sure doesn’t makes you proud to be an American,” Manley said.  

A jury trial was scheduled for Jan. 17, 2017.