**WARNING** This article contains content that may not be suitable for all readers.
A 26-year-old man has been charged in Washburn County Circuit Court with sexually assaulting a female child, age 5 at the time of the alleged assault.
Travis Nichols, formerly of Spooner, WI (now of Siren, WI, per online circuit court records) has been charged with two counts of 1st Degree Sexual Assault of a Child Under Age 12.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Nichols, on March 24, 2018, Washburn County law enforcement received a report of a child sexual assault. The reporter told investigating officers that her child, then age 5, told her that she had a “bad secret” with an adult male.
The child went on to tell the mother that this adult male had asked her if he could lick her bottom and that her pants had been down at the time.
The mother went on to tell investigating officers that she had discussed the situation with the child’s father and that they had shown the child photos from online social media in the hopes that the child would be able to tell them who the adult male had been. The child identified Travis Nichols from the photos she was shown.
The criminal complaint goes on to state that during a forensic interview, the child again identified Nichols as the adult male in question, and provided further statements regarding what had happened.
The child stated that Nichols had licked her bottom on at least two different occasions. She also stated to investigators that Nichols had pulled her pants and underwear down in order to do so. Investigators presented anatomical drawings to the child and she correctly identified multiple body parts, including the buttocks as a person’s “bottom”.
During the interview, the child went on to say that Nichols told her this was a secret and that she needed to keep it a secret, reminding her of this on the incident of the second alleged assault. The child also stated that she told Nichols no, but that he did it anyway.
If convicted as charged, Nichols could face a maximum penalty of imprisonment for 60 years on each count.
Online circuit court records show that Nichols appeared for a bail bond hearing in Washburn County Circuit Court on March 29, 2018, at which time a cash bond was ordered. Records also indicate that the bond was posted that same day; although the amount of the bond is not listed.
In a separate case filed against Nichols in Washburn County Circuit Court on June 29, 2018, Nichols is charged with Misdemeanor 2nd Offense Operating While Intoxicated, Misdemeanor 2nd Offense Operating With Prohibited Alcohol Concentration and 2 counts of Class H Felony Bail Jumping. Details of that case are not known to DrydenWire.com at this time.
Nichols is scheduled to make an Initial Appearance on July 2, 2018, regarding all his criminal charges.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Last Update: Jul 02, 2018 10:27 am CDT
