CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — A former Huntersville teacher will spend at least 18 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to raping a 15-year-old girl.
Ernest Nichols apologized in a Charlotte courtroom Friday morning, after he pleaded guilty to one count of statutory rape.
"I pray most every night that you and your family find true peace and healing," Nichols said as he turned to face the victim and her family.
Nichols' plea deal comes eight months after a Charlotte judge rejected another deal that would have had him serve 12 years.
The prosecutor, Kelly Miller, said she offered the plea deal to spare the girl and her family the pain of going to trial, including public viewing of videos Nichols had made of the two having sex.
"I believe this sentence makes a statement that this community will not tolerate sex offenders who prey on children," Miller said after the hearing.
Nichols' attorney, John Ross, said he agreed to the plea rather than have his client face a longer sentence if he had gone to trial.
"I think everybody was at peace with the decision and knew that this would be the last day they'd have to come to court for it, and I think all of the parties were satisfied with that," Ross said.
Nichols' family and the victim's family left court without commenting.
WSOC
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