Lawrence Resident Pleads to Aggravated Kidnapping and Other Charges

01/04/2011
CONTACT INFO: Charles Branson Douglas County District Attorney 785-841-0211 cbranson@douglas-county.com Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces today that Lawrence resident William E. Nichols, 30; plead guilty to Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Sexual Battery and Aggravated Battery. Investigation into the case began when officers with the Lawrence Police Department (LPD) were dispatched on Wednesday, June 16 at approximately 3:15 p.m. to the section of the bike/walking trail that runs between the YSI soccer fields and Clinton Lake. The call was placed by citizens who assisted the victim in freeing herself from her attacker. LPD officers set up a secure perimeter and were able to apprehend the suspect when he attempted to flee the area. Mr. Nichols will be sentenced on February 28 at 1:30 p.m. It is believed he has little or no prior criminal history and he therefore faces a sentence of 147-165 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections. The District Attorney's Office will ask the Judge to sentence Mr. Nichols to the aggravated sentencing level of 165 months. "I am pleased to have the guilty pleas and especially on the most serious of his crimes, the Aggravated Kidnapping charge. I am also grateful the victim, who lives outside the United States, does not have to return to testify as she did in the Preliminary Hearing," advised Branson. Today's hearing was held in the courtroom of the Honorable Peggy C. Kittel. The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and prosecuted by District Attorney Charles Branson and Assistant District Attorney Katy Britton. -30-

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Media Contact:
Cheryl L. Wright - Assistant to the District Attorney
District Attorney's Office
785-841-0211
cwright@douglas-county.com