Eddie Nichols, Former Sheriff's Deputy and Ordained Minister, to Stand Trial for Alleged Child Sex Crimes

By Robin Y. Richardson
Go San Angelo
April 15, 2013

http://m.gosanangelo.com/news/2013/apr/15/eddie-nichols-former-sheriffs-deputy-and-ordained/?partner=RSS



MARSHALL, TEXAS — A trial date has been set for a former sheriff’s deputy who was arrested and indicted along with his wife last year for alleged child sex crimes.

Harrison County Criminal District Attorney Coke Solomon, whose office is prosecuting the case, said Eddie Nichols is set to stand trial for the crimes, starting in July.

“We’ll be ready,” Solomon said of the trial.

The DA noted that 71st District Judge Brad Morin has recused himself from the case; thus, visiting judge David Brabham, the 188th district court judge in Gregg County, will be presiding.

Defense attorney Vernard Solomon has been appointed to represent Nichols. Nichols initially retained attorney John J. Eastland, of Tyler, to represent both him and his wife. However, Eastland filed a motion in October 2012 to withdraw from the case; likewise, Nichols and his wife wrote a letter to Eastland, discharging him as their counsel, accusing him of not having a trial strategy and not diligently working on their case.

“Our ability to survive and raise our children despite these meritless charges greatly depended on your efforts,” the couple wrote.

Nichols, 50, was first arrested along with his wife, 34-year-old Sharon Renee Nichols, in September 2011 for two counts of sexual indecency with a child by contact. Nichols was arrested again that December on a third charge of sexual indecency with a child. His last arrest on Feb. 16, 2012, was for two additional sex charges — sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child. He bonded out of jail a few days later on Feb. 24, according to jail records.

The Harrison County District Attorney’s Office and Ranger Jason Dudley, of Longview, have been the investigators in Nichols’ cases.

The alleged victims in Nichols’ first arrest are two girls, who were ages 14 and 11 at the time it was reported. The victims told a school counselor and authorities that Nichols touched them inappropriately. In his third charge, Nichols is accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl from January 2002 to March 2003 by touching her breasts and genitals.

Authorities learned of the accusations from a school counselor, who came forth with the information after Nichols and his wife were arrested in September 2011 on the other two cases.

Nichols, who is also an ordained minister, was immediately terminated from the sheriff’s office following the investigation in the first case. His wife was fired from her position as deputy county clerk a few days later.

Nichols worked with the sheriff’s office for three-and-a-half years before his termination. Prior to his employment with the sheriff’s office, he worked for Marshall Police Department as an officer for 13 years. While at MPD, he also served as the department’s chaplain.



Contact: ryrichardson@marshallnewsmessenger.com