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Former P.H. police officer rearrested for domestic abuse
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More from Other NewsA judge this afternoon refused to raise or lower the $500,000 bail of a former Port Hueneme police officer who was rearrested this week on suspicion of domestic violence.
Chad Robert Nichols, who was arrested Wednesday, was already on 36 months probation for domestic violence in connection with hitting his wife, Jaimene Nichols, earlier.
During a bail-reduction hearing, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Colleen Toy White refused to raise Nichols' bond to $1 million as requested by prosecutor Melissa Suttner.
Judge White also denied a request by Nichols' lawyer, David Lehr, to lower the amount.
"These are serious charges," White said.
Suttner argued in court that less than 48 hours after Nichols was put on probation in May after pleading guilty to domestic violence, he sexually assaulted his wife on May 13, Mother's Day.
Suttner told the judge that Nichols arrived unannounced at the residence where his wife and their three daughters, ages 14, 13 and 9, were living.
"He proceeded to sexually assault the victim," said Suttner, adding that he kicked her in the head.
Suttner said Jaimene Nichols fled to the laundry room. The incident took place at about 8 a.m., according to police.
The couple's 14-year-old daughter told her father to "get out" and there is concern that the couple's three children witnesssed part or all of the incident, according to officials.
Nichols remained in custody after the hearing today. During the hearing, he wore orange and blue jail garb, and was detained inside a large white metal cage in the courtroom.
Lehr told the judge that all the allegations are false, and it is no coincidence that they are made as the couple is going through divorce proceedings.
"It was first reported two days ago, when it happened — according to them — two months and two weeks earlier," Lehr said after the hearing. "If he is such a danger to everybody else, why didn't she report this earlier? Because it is a fabrication. She made this up, period. Why? Because she wants to get more out of the divorce."
Lehr said the District Attorney's Office has its sights set on his client because he is a former police officer. He said prosecutors can't get over the fact that in the earlier case, Judge Kevin McGee lowered the felony charge of domestic violence to a misdemeanor.
"Because of his status as a former police officer, everything is aggravated, everything is more important, everything is exaggerated," Lehr said."I talked to witnesses at the time of the alleged offense. He was nowhere near the house."
Posted by slkrchck on July 27, 2007 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i hope this doesn't reflect on the phpd as a whole. the majority are fine upstanding citizens besides being fine upstanding peace officers. unfortunately, this may bring reproach on the whole department.
Posted by 805grl on July 27, 2007 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
once a wife beater- always a wife beater...
Posted by Ventura22 on July 27, 2007 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seems like this article is directed at the PD. He's a FORMER officer for a reason, leave PHPD out of it; they did their job by making him a former officer. Lots of jerks are arrested for doing this every week, why is this such big news?
Posted by Common_Sense on July 27, 2007 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Because this paper only cares about creating a BUZZ and sacrafices good reporting to do so. Its why the readership is in the toilet. As for the allegations, if true, its another example of a a judge going soft and the accused continuing the behavior. We need to bring back the "strong arm of the law" and stop with the slaps on the wrists. Thugs need more than hugs, they need a kick in the...
Posted by Ventura22 on July 27, 2007 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, they can always contract with VCSD when the small city gets in over their head by trying to run their own police force; as many have in the past...like with fire departments.
Agreed, it's an expensive business indeed(it is everywhere else too), and if the city isn't prepared to accept this, they should get themselves out of the police business, and join-up with the county. They would save some of the overhead costs and be served by an agency who is larger, has more established resources and spending power. It's difficult for a smaller city fo offer the full line of law enforcement services on its own, and be noticably effective at it.
Posted by Common_Sense on July 27, 2007 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Or Oxnard, as they are probably much more familiar with the shared criminal element. You contract out, however, you loose some control and influence....Probably why Santa Paula hasn't done this (though they desperately need to).
Posted by slkrchck on July 27, 2007 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i was hit in oxnard.the person didn't stop, i followed them while i waited for opd. while they took a statement from us and examined our car, the suspect drove past us through the parking lot, smiled and waved. opd wanted to get the story straight first. as she drove into hueneme, i called them with the same full description and plate number. she was arrested straight away. she was driving a rental car and had full coverage.
i went to oxnard to complain. they said they were too busy with gang activity to pursue a hit and run drivers. as it happens, our criminal element is not shared. oxnard is a little more like ventura.
we have three officers per shift and we still have enough to question suspicious persons. hueneme knows who lives here and who doesn't. many id theft suspects and vandals have been caught that way. every town has crime and huenenme's stats are on our website. most of the garbage in this town is from the marina village and bolker neighborhoods and we think of them as oxnard anyway. it's sort of like oxnard folks saying they live in channel islands or in north oxnard. or venturans making the note that they live in the hills or the east end. nobody brags about living on the avenue or south oxnard.
i see effectiveness in our pd.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 27, 2007 at 7:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FIRST, lets remember last year when Chad beat his wife and was dismissed from the dept. Not only that does anyone remember the other women he had many affairs with and then began stalking them ! And they feared him deeply. A few were slapped around by him. I believe this is why the headline said former PHPD. It all relates back to the first incident when he did this to his wife and the other women...... Thats when he lost his job. Obviously this man has an anger problem and needs help.........NO ONE has the right to hit thier spouse !!!!! And I pray for her and the children !!! I hope this time CHAD goes to jail and does some time.
Posted by Common_Sense on July 27, 2007 at 9:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BellSash,
Police Officers are held to a higher standard because they are placed in a position of authority and tasked with upholding laws, making a decision on whether to rip a persons freedom from them (arresting them), and provided much more leeway than the average person when it comes to taking someone's life. Damn right a police officer should be held to a higher standard, especially when it comes to situations like domestic violence. If a police officer does not loose his job in this situation, what credibility would they (law enforcement) have? This credibility is what allows them to do their jobs and keep us safe.
The way I see this situation, it is not that he was treated in a "heavy handed" fashion during the prior event, rather the opposite actually happened. He did not serve any jail time and the conviction was dropped to a misdemeanor (in light of the most recent events, that was OBVIOUSLY a mistake). There is probably alot there in this most recent incident if the police arrested him. I am sure, given the circus the last event became, they crossed their T's and dotted their I's.
As AnnaWhat has reminded those that have forgotten, there is a reported history of unacceptable behavior that began long before the incident that resulted in him loosing his job. Mr. BellSash, perhaps a police officer should be able to keep his job when he uses drugs? How about drunk driving? Burglary? I mean, they are people and should not loose their jobs right? A sports figure wouldn't. I think your position needs a little more thought as it does not appear that you put much into this one. I am sure most police officers would agree with me and are likely embarrased that he, and other officer's involved in situations such as this, shared a uniform with them.
Posted by Ventura22 on July 27, 2007 at 11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oxnard PD may be a good choice to contract out to(just make sure they get good beach driving training first). The SD has a lot of resources that none of the PD's have or can support and that's because they are a bigger agency. The cities can merge but they will still end-up using the SD resources, and the county will charge them hourly rates. Seems to me the sensible option would be to contract with the agency with the most toys, goodies and capabilities...and pay for them only once, not each time they have to use them on top of what they fund their own PD's with.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 28, 2007 at 11:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BellSash,WRONG!!!!!! A police officer must be held to a higher standard. If one is quick to fly off the handle and cause abuse they they shouldn't be working with the public. Much different then a construction worker with a bad temper. If a cop has a bad temper then no telling what they will do.
And you had to read all the other women that came forward the last time he was in the paper about all the abuse he has caused them to understand the true story....... In CHADS case.......I would truely believe on his demeanor that he would be guilty of such a crime. Please try to find the archives on Chad. And it may bring a bigger light to the story........
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