Man sentenced to 25 years in Columbia parking lot sexual assault

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who sexually assaulted a woman in a parking lot in 2024 has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Nicholas Mathews, 24, of Columbia, pleaded guilty on Friday to first-degree sodomy and armed criminal action. Matthews will also be registered as a sex offender. He is currently being held at the Boone County Jail.

He was previously charged with first-degree sodomy, armed criminal action, first-degree kidnapping, third-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.

Court documents in previous reporting say Mathews pulled out a large knife and knocked down the victim in a parking lot at 1 a.m. April 2. He then sexually assaulted the woman.

Mathews allegedly confessed at the time about assaulting the victim and told police that he follows vehicles and has “urges to assault women,” the statement says. He denied having a knife.