Tesla driver convicted of attacking people with a pipe on the streets of Southern California may be released

The Tesla driver who terrorized commuters across Los Angeles County for several months between 2022 and 2023 could be released sooner than expected, despite serving less than a year of his five-year sentence.

In January 2023, the California Highway Patrol arrested Nathaniel Walter Radimak for assaulting eight people between 2022 and 2023, including an incident of road rage in which he repeatedly rammed another driver's car with a metal pipe on Freeway 2.

Prosecutors charged him with four counts of assault and criminal threatening, one count of vandalism, two counts of misdemeanor vandalism and one count of elder abuse.

During prosecution, prosecutors argued for release without bail because Radimak's lengthy criminal history spanned nearly two decades, multiple states and multiple jurisdictions.

During the trial, a case was pending against Radimak in which he was accused of attacking another driver in a January 2020 road rage incident in Hollywood. When officers searched his car, Radimak allegedly had steroids and more than $30,000 on him. He was charged with a felony count of possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of assault.

“Los Angeles drivers should not have to live in fear of being attacked while simply driving on the freeway,” said District Attorney George Gascón when his office announced the Fees.

Ultimately, on October 3, 2023, a judge sentenced Radimak to five years in prison for stalking, criminal threats to cause serious bodily harm or death, assault with force likely to cause serious bodily harm, vandalism, and injury to the elderly causing death or serious bodily harm.

However, one year after starting his five-year sentence, Radimak will be eligible for parole because he served time in prison between January and October 2023.

For the 248 days he spent in Los Angeles County Jail, he received credit for 424 days served prior to sentencing, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Thanks to the credit, the convicted felon is now eligible for parole less than a year into his five-year sentence. At least one of his victims received notice that he would be released later in August.

The prison service could not confirm exact release dates or movements “for security reasons.”