North GA sheriff arrested on public indecency, sexual battery charges

RABUN COUNTY, Ga. — A North Georgia sheriff has been arrested and charged with sexual battery and public indecency.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation started an investigation into Rabun County Sheriff Chad Nichols last week. On Friday, he turned himself in.

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Rabun County jail records show Nichols faces charges of public indecency, sexual battery and violation of oath by a public officer.

“The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office has no comment on the ongoing and active investigation being conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations,” Rabun County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kevin Angell said to Channel 2 Action News.

“We’re managing through it. It’s new territory so we’re doing the best we can,” Major Beth Darnell with the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office told Channel 2′s Audrey Washington.

The GBI did not release any victim information. This case is still being investigated.

Nichols was booked into the Rabun County Detention Center by his own deputies.

In a statement, the sheriff’s office wrote in part,

“With the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s arrest of Sheriff Chad Nichols and the coinciding conditions of his bond, which state “he not be involved in any law enforcement activity in his capacity as sheriff,” the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office will rely on Major Beth Darnell as its ‘Acting In-Charge.’”

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“We’re handling this as business as usual. We have a great support team in Rabun County,” said Major Darnell.

Neither the GBI nor the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office would go into any further detail about the alleged sexual battery, but Major Darnell said she is concerned about her team, who she considers family.

“We have a lot of people who are praying for us, and we are supporting one another as a team. We’re coming together. We’re offering counseling,” Major Darnell explained.

The GBI says once the investigation is complete, the case file will be handed over the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney.

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