CAPE MAY COURTHOUSE — A 32-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the sexual assault of a minor.
Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland and Cape May Police Chief Dekon Fashaw announced the arrest of William H. Nichols of Florence County, S.C., following a joint investigation into a reported sexual assault of a minor.
According to authorities, the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, in collaboration with the Cape May Police Department, initiated an investigation Feb. 24 after receiving the report.
As a result of the investigation, Nichols was charged Feb. 27 with aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
Investigation revealed Nichols was living in Florence County and a complaint warrant was issued.
Nichols was arrested March 1 by the Florence County Sheriff’s Department and was being held pending extradition.
Under New Jersey law, a conviction for a first-degree crime typically carries a sentencing range of 10 to 20 years in state prison. However, this case is subject to the provisions of the Jessica Lunsford Act, meaning the defendant faces a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life and if convicted would have to serve a minimum of 25 years without the possibility of parole.
