RABUN COUNTY, Ga. — Suspended Rabun County Sheriff Chad Nichols has pleaded guilty in the case where he faced sexual battery and public indecency charges.
Nichols, 45, was arrested for public indecency, sexual battery and violation of oath by a public officer on May 24.
According to authorities, Nichols "did intentionally make inappropriate contact with an adult woman, without her consent, and did perform a lewd appearance in a state of complete nudity in a public place and did perform lewd exposure of his sexual organ in a public place."
On Friday, he pleaded guilty to one count of violation of oath by a public officer and apologized to the victim.
Nichols was sentenced to five years probation with a two-year behavioral incentive date and a $1,000 fine.
As a part of Nichols' sentence, he was forced to formally resign as the sheriff within 24 hours of his conviction, have no contact with the victim, surrender his peace officer certificate, and waive his Fourth Amendment to be searched without a warrant.
This comes after Gov. Brian Kemp appointed a committee to investigate his arrest -- a group that involved Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Morgan County Sheriff Robert Markley and Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum. The committee had 30 days to prepare a report explaining why they recommended Nichols' suspension.
Nichols has worked for the Sheriff's Office since 1998.
On June 17, Rabun County Chief Superior Court Judge Russell Smith appointed Chief Deputy Elizabeth "Beth" Darnell to serve as the interim sheriff during the suspension. It's unclear if she will be the permanent sheriff.
