A Bricelyn man has pleaded guilty to threatening a group of people with a loaded gun during a November 2010 altercation.

Reed Steven Nelson, 60, on Tuesday pleaded guilty in Freeborn County District Court to one count of terroristic threats as part of a plea agreement between himself and the Freeborn County Attorney’s Office.

The plea was classified as an Alford plea, in which the defendant maintains his innocence but admits the prosecutor has enough evidence to convict, usually for stiffer penalties.

As part of the agreement, two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon were dismissed.

Nelson, who had been slated to begin his jury trial, is scheduled to be sentenced June 4.

According to court documents, Nelson was arrested after an altercation at 2202 Milo Ave. on Nov. 24, 2010.

Nelson had sold his house at this address, and the buyer and some of his friends came to the house to move some belongings in.

The buyer told police problems arose after someone accidentally let Nelson’s dog run out of the house, and when Nelson tried to let the dog back in, an argument began.

During the argument, one of the buyer’s friends reportedly walked toward Nelson. Nelson reportedly interpreted this as an attempt to assault him so he reportedly struck the man in the head with a flashlight. The man reportedly then pushed Nelson to the ground.

Nelson then went to the kitchen, got a pistol and pointed it at the man and some of the others.
After the group left, officers surrounded the house and had to talk Nelson out of the house.