THIS IS THE JANUARY ’25 UPDATE, THE ORIGINAL STORY BEGINS BELOW. – 01/07/25 – After the brutal and savage assault of an elderly Veteran named Tom Coles, the assailant, Mark C. Weidner of Garden Valley Idaho, obtained a plea deal consisting of a $500 fine, 12 months unsupervised probation, 20 hours community service, and ZERO restitution. Read the full, true story below and decide for yourself if justice has been served in this matter. There was a time in this country when our Veterans were believed, respected, honored, and defended. The Idaho “Justice System” was supposed to uphold that time-honored standard. Today they have failed us.
Who is Tom Coles?
Tom Coles is an exemplary man. He is uncommon amongst the uncommon. Most of us have had the privilege of knowing someone who lived a life of extreme integrity and virtue. Anyone who knows Tom shares that privilege. Tom is 79 years young, one of 10 siblings, a faithful and loving husband of 48 years, an honorable father of three, a thankful grandfather, a Vietnam Veteran and an Idaho resident. He attended both LeTourneau University and Grand Rapids Bible School, and has dedicated the majority of his life to the service of others. At 55 years of age, after decades of working in the construction business, Tom and his wife sold everything and moved to Mexico to follow their calling toward full-time missionary service. For nearly a decade, these two souls lived and worked among those that needed the most from them. They poured everything they had into building homes for the homeless, constructing orphanages for the orphaned, and feeding the hungry and the forgotten. When others were chasing security and luxury, they were giving it all up in favor of something much more meaningful. Tom is honest, genuine, trustworthy, reliable, ethical, and simply put, he’s a rock solid example of a great human being. But if you know him, then you already know all of this.
Why does this matter?
On the evening of July 29th 2024, while at his daughter’s house in Garden Valley, Idaho, Tom was outside, in their neighborhood, collecting dead tree branches for a home art project. Tom was within the common area of the subdivision when he was approached by two unknown aggressors in a vehicle, threatened with a pistol to his face, verbally attacked, physically beaten in the head and ribs, bloodied in the face and neck, knocked to the ground, and left lying there on the side of the road. They then photographed him lying there and drove off. Tom made his way back to his daughter’s house where they called 911. Tom was taken to local urgent care, diagnosed with a concussion and what appeared to be two cracked ribs. Given the time of night, and the significant driving distance to the nearest hospital, he was returned to the house to rest and heal for a bit. The next morning, he was taken to the V.A. Hospital in Boise where he underwent x-rays, CT scans, and related evaluations to determine the full extent of his injuries, which are significant. On top of this, Tom is presently dealing with a recent cancer diagnosis as well as ongoing complications with AFib. This sort of inexcusable brutality could have ended his life. Meanwhile, the night of the attack, the officer was able to locate and interview these two people. The assailant, named Mark C. Weidner, clearly decades younger than Tom, is a neighbor who admitted to the officer that he had indeed committed the assault, as accused, before driving off without rendering aid. The officer told Tom’s family that this assailant also admitted to using the pistol during the assault, and Tom and his family are confident that both the written reports and the body cam footage will confirm this very important detail. However, despite the admission, and for reasons unknown, the officer chose not arrest the assailant that night. Furthermore, as of January 2025, no arrest was ever made and the charges filed against this assailant are no more than simple misdemeanors.
How can someone get away with this?
Problem One: The assailant claims that he was hit first, in the face, with a fist, by Tom Coles. If you’re reading this and you know Tom, you’re undoubtedly experiencing some degree of internal rage at the absurdity of this foolish accusation. Tom did get a hit in – anyone as tough as him would – but only well after he was first assaulted. Tom says this is what happened, and that’s that.
Problem Two: These law enforcement officers do not know Tom, and as such, it was just one person’s story against another’s.
Problem Three: The charges filed are simple assault and battery. Anyone with even the shortest exposure to the law surrounding assault and battery charges will know that the careless and intentional use of the firearm, during this aggressive and potentially fatal assault, objectively requires that this be escalated to “aggravated assault”, if not all the way to “aggravated battery”. It is shameful to think that misdemeanor charges are appropriate for this sort of sick brutality.
What’s next?
Tom deserves better than to have his word questioned. To believe that he struck this aggressor first is unconscionable. All we wanted was JUSTICE for TOM. Did we get that? If you have something you’d like to say or share about the outcome in this assault case, we encourage you to reach out to the named individuals below with any questions or comments. And if you want more information, please contact us at the email below.
Please keep any correspondence simple, clean and civil as we work to support this honorable man who is as deserving as can be of our thoughtful time and efforts. Thank you all and God Bless. And to those officers who may read this: We greatly respect you and we are sincerely thankful for your efforts in protecting our communities. We proudly Back the Blue. And to the Veteran’s organizations following this, we appreciate your continued assistance and support! Stand by!
Boise County Prosecuting Attorney – [email protected]
Boise County Sheriff – [email protected]
Boise County Chief Deputy – [email protected]
