Rabun County Sheriff Arrested and Charged with Sexual Assault

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested and charged Rabun County Sheriff Chad Nichols with sexual assault, public indecency and violation of his oath of office.

According to the GBI, on Friday, May 24, Mountain Judicial District Attorney George Christian asked the agency to investigate an incident involving Nichols.

Nichols, 45, turned himself in and was booked into the Rabun County Detention Center early Friday morning, May 31.

Violation of the oath of office is a crime. Sexual assault and public indecency charges are both misdemeanors. A superior court judge issued arrest warrants for criminal conduct that allegedly occurred in May 2024, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Nichols' bail was set at $32,500. A news release from the prosecutor's office says bond conditions prohibit Nichols from engaging in or directing law enforcement activities “in his personal capacity or in his capacity as sheriff of Rabun County.”

The sheriff's office announced Friday afternoon that Maj. Beth Darnell had been named “acting manager” of the agency. Investigator Kevin Angell, a sheriff's office spokesman, said Nichols named Darnell before his arrest.

Christian says his office will have no further comment regarding this matter as it remains under investigation. Once the GBI investigation is complete, the case will be turned over to the DA's office for prosecution.

Nichols, who is nearing the end of his second term as sheriff, is the former Baldwin police chief. He is currently running for re-election against former Rabun County Assemblyman Mark Gerrells.

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