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Lower bail denied for ex-officer in domestic violence case
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More from Local NewsA judge on Friday 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.
During a bail reduction hearing Friday afternoon, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Colleen Toy White refused to raise Nichols' bond to $1 million as requested by prosecutor Melissa Suttner.
The judge 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 his wife in the head.
Suttner said Jaimene Nichols fled to the laundry room. The incident took place 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 witnessed part or all of the incident, according to officials.
Nichols, 35, remained in jail after the hearing Friday. During the hearing, he wore orange and blue jail garb.
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."
Nichols was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of inflicting injury to a spouse or cohabitant, and oral copulation by force, both felonies, and child endangerment, a misdemeanor.
White set the next hearing on this matter for Aug. 6. She said the preliminary hearing will be Aug. 9.
Earlier this year, Nichols pleaded guilty to a charge of corporal injury to his spouse.
In February 2006, he hit his wife in the head with a cell phone while she was holding the couple's 2-year-old daughter at their Oxnard home.
One of their children tried to call the police to report the incident, and Chad Nichols grabbed the cell phone out of her hand and stomped on it, Suttner said during the earlier case against Nichols.
During testimony at a preliminary hearing on July 10, 2006, Jaimene Nichols denied that she was ever beaten by her husband. The injury on the top of her head was a "scratch" after she accidentally hit it on a dresser drawer, she testified.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 28, 2007 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yep I did too !!!!!!
Posted by smithjc on July 29, 2007 at 4:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ok, this allegedly occurred on may 13, but didn't get reported until more than two months later? and that doesn't bother anybody? after all, wouldn't it make sense to report it when any marks, biological evidence, etc would be present? that would have taken it out of the "he said, she said" realm and attached some weight to the complaint.
this really sounds like a typical divorce lawyer tactic. i not ignoring the fact that he was convicted of the prior incident, nor am i defending it, but each one has to be viewed as a separate occurrence and not as "well, he did it last time, so he must have done it this time".
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 29, 2007 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
smithjc ,I can only hope all the other females that were terrorized by this guy would come forward on this board and let you know just what a scumbag he is.......
skiffy777, I wouldn't wish that on anyone. First off I do not condone it period..... So say its ok in prison to do but not ok on the streets is just not morally thinking....its not ok anywhere....
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 29, 2007 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BellSash, You act like you know her? She isn't a Saint either? How do you know. Do you recall the story a year ago when he abused her throwing a phone at her. Then probably out of fear, she tried to deny it happened that way to protect. Why? Because she was scared of him beating her again. So this time perhaps she said I have had enough!!
There are only so many beatings a woman can take.
Not only that but he had numerous affairs and stalked the other women!!!! REPORTS were made.
Perhaps you shouldn't be so fast to Judge her. Chad has already proved himself as a low life scum!
Posted by smithjc on July 29, 2007 at 7:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i'm not saying that it did or didn't happen. but, i always look with suspicion on things that are "reported" long after any evidence that could be used by either side is gone. look at both sides of this: he has previously admitted to domestic abuse and she has previously admitted to lying under oath. i don't really see any haloes on either side. ( and yes, i do know both of them, although jaimene not as well as chad).
could this have happened? maybe, maybe not. could she have lied? again, maybe, maybe not. just because people have done things in the past does not automatically make them guilty again. that's why judges and juries are not allowed to hear about prior convictions during the guilt/innocence phase of the trial as it is considered prejudicial, and priors only come into play when it's time for sentencing for purposes of enhancement.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 30, 2007 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well during his first ARREST for beating her up. They were NOT going through a divorce. So how can you say its a woman scorned? Obviously you have never walked in her shoes........afraid to admit that he did beat her for no telling what he would do to her the next time....
You must be married to a cop or you are one huh?
TO be so persistant to stick up for this man. Obviously his last case where many women testified they must have lied to huh? geezzz
I hope he goes to prison !!!!
Posted by NothingButTheTruth on July 30, 2007 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know an officer whose ex-wife liked to attack HIM by hitting, scratching with nails, and kicking, plus destroying property. All the while she would say how nobody would believe him against her because she was a woman. He loved her and put up with it for years out of fear of losing his job and the ability to care for his children and himself. He stayed married for many years because his parents taught him to never give up. Finally, enough was enough and divorce occurred... but not without the wife making demand after demand to get all she could. In the end, the only winner$ were the lawyer$. They will drag it out as long as they can to milk the clients for all they're worth. I believe Nichols did some wrong, but I strongly urge commenters to use extreme caution until ALL the facts are out.
Posted by holdenon_2000 on July 30, 2007 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He got off the hook because he was a Cop, if it was anybody else they would have been charged with a felony. Now he did it again, will he get a felony or another slap on the wrist. It must be nice being a cop, beating women, and getting away with it, because your a cop. It should be the other way around, he should be charged with obstruction of justice as well since he used his occupation, to persuade his family not to testify against him.
One bad apple ruins the basket. This is why Police are the laughing stocks of Ventura County.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 30, 2007 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just wish the other women who had affairs with this guy would come online and tell thier stories. How he beat them and stalked them. Had it not been for the previous case I may have left it alone. But there were so many women who testified against him last time that you know it was true.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 31, 2007 at 6:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
holdenon_2000 ,Yeah I pretty much agree with you!!!
Bell- Educate???? Please........... Obviously your sticking up for this cop. Which is your right. But had you read all the other posts from his previous arrests you would see things differently. I think the attack on holdenon was a bit much....Name calling resorts to nothing. And you say SHE LIED? She was forced by her cop husband to not tell the truth out of fear for her LIFE !!!!! What would you do???? And yes ,you bet cops do need to be held to a higher standard then football players. Cops are there to protect and serve. And yes it does look bad on the dept. when one goes bad.
No need to want to sit down with me because I KNOW exactly how the DA's office works. This man is obviously out of control, so much that his wife was scared to death to tell the truth about what happened. I DONT blame her!!!! I really hope she can have the courage to get up and testify about all the abuse. I pray GOD gives her the strength to do that. I for one, DO NOT understand why your so obsessed with this article,unless your married to a cop. If so perhaps your spouse is the best cop around, kudos to you and the County ! But there are alot of BAD ones out there . And they need to be picked off the tree........ Have a good day!
Posted by godslove1 on August 4, 2007 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know that this is somewhat after the fact but do any of you know about the "blue code"? This woman was probably in justified fear that his "buddies" and underlings (he was a Sargent) would back him up to the nth degree...and may well have! There was no way on God's green earth that she was going to open her mouth without a solid rock case that would NOT slip through the holes. Even then there was doubt. The stuff that goes on under the 'code' is inconceivable in this day and age but it does happen and and it is ugly and filthy. NO I have not been reading too many police novels or watching too many police dramas...this is real and it does exist so all of you with doubts take your blinders off and have some cooffee!
Posted by TruthBeTold on August 4, 2007 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First-Raul Hernandez...it is your ethical obligation to report the facts. If this is how you are remembering how things are stated, then you must use a recorder because your first story and this follow up do not agree with what were the actual stated arguments. You have been given a second opportunity at this Danielle Steele drama, maybe this time you can report accurately or if you write to "sell" papers, then you should be recruited by the Inquirer.
Second....if you haters took the time to find out that there has been a divorce filed and that Mrs. Nichols is a victim of her own screen play then maybe you would be so obliged to see what a manipulator she is. Her lies are catching up to her,and there is no one to bail her out. She's desparate. Think about it. Here is a woman who claims to be scared, claims to be a victim, but she is an aggressor, whose interest still revolves around a lifestyle her husband could never afford. If she can't have him, then no one can. She has been seen in places that a "victim" would not hang out, during such sensitive times. Not saying she shouldn't move on with her life, but stop trying to take everyone down with you. Mrs. Nichols, stop taking public funds and time from those that really need it. Let's be fair, stop hiding behind that facade and let people know the things that you have done. Stop your lies and using your children for your ploys. I wonder who presents more danger to your children, their father who couln't deal with a psycho like you and decided to make a better life for him and his girls or a mother who victimizes their children by lying to then, isolates them, and intimidates them. Good luck with your life, I hope you find happiness in all the darkness that surrounds you. By the way, you'll be a great screen writer. The stories that you create are very entertaining. Senseless, and sequentially ignorant, but worth watching when nothing else is on t.v.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on August 5, 2007 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
godslove1 ,Great post ! Very logical..........
TruthBeTold, I may have been influenced by your comment if I hadn't read all the comments from the other WOMEN in Chads life the last time this hit the paper. His abuse and stalking etc.
Posted by wright515 on August 15, 2007 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That was great Bell Sash
Posted by AnnaWhaat on August 16, 2007 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I still think it comes down to the same scenerio (sp) A cop will stick up for a cop no matter what!!!! They can do no wrong !!!!! Geez
Posted by AnnaWhaat on August 18, 2007 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
pxh.18 , I DO mean it. I also have relatives that are cops! I hear so many stories its unbelieveable!
I think most here that are in his defense are connected to the dept. Blue code I guess ! As for Chad he has proven himself...........hope he goes to prison this time ! Hope his wife can go on with her life and children and not fear him anymore!
Posted by AnnaWhaat on August 19, 2007 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well Thankyou! And you have your right to express your opinion. And I will not attack you for it like others seem to do to me. Thankyou!
Posted by dmsafford on August 26, 2007 at 2:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How did this couple have a 2-year-old in 2006 who is now 9?
Posted by AnnaWhaat on August 29, 2007 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
uhhh good one! I have no clue?
Posted by AnnaWhaat on September 2, 2007 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
skifly777 ,Grow up???? And what age are you? Do you not realize how many people in prison are released each and every year? Do you want them all to come out of prison as rapists? I dont !!!!!
Posted by AnnaWhaat on September 9, 2007 at 8:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ok Someone removed alot of comments.So it looks like I just posted away !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ROFL
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