Lyndonville, Vermont Priest Sentenced To 30 Days In Jail For Lewd Conduct

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April 30, 2007 - The Vermont Attorney General’s Office announced today that Stephen Nichols, a priest from St. Elizabeth’s Church in Lyndonville, has pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of prohibited act for engaging in lewd conduct with an eighteen year old parishioner in the spring of 2005. Under the terms of the plea agreement Nichols will serve thirty days in jail, be on supervised probation for a period of up to two years and will undergo sex offender counseling. The complainant was kept fully informed as the plea agreement was being negotiated. He is pleased that a public trial has been avoided and is satisfied with this resolution of the case.

According to the affidavit filed with the court, Nichols became acquainted with the complainant when the complainant was sixteen and interested in converting to Catholicism. Nichols served as the complainant’s spiritual advisor and mentor during the conversion process.

According to the police investigation, Nichols traveled to Canada with the complainant on two occasions, in February and in April 2005. According to the complainant both trips involved alcohol consumption by him and Nichols, and staying overnight at Nichols’ home in Richford, Vermont. The complainant told police that during the second trip he got sick from drinking while in Canada. The complainant said that once at Nichols’ home, Nichols advised him to take a shower and offered to wash his clothes. According to the complainant, Nichols then began to engage in unwanted sexual advances towards him. The complainant told police that these started in the bathroom while he was in the shower, continued in the living room, and ended with Nichols getting into the complainant’s bed and fondling his penis.

“The defendant's actions while a practicing priest were reprehensible and a serious betrayal of trust. The message from this case is clear - such conduct by those in a position of trust and authority will be prosecuted and punished,” said Attorney General William Sorrell.

Source: Vermont Attorney General