(Woodland, CA) – June 13, 2025 On June 9, 2025, the Honorable Paul K. Richardson sentenced Savannah, GA, resident Thomas Jonathan Nichols, 47, to a 43-year determinate sentence to be followed by an indeterminate sentence of 165 years to Life in state prison for the sexual abuse of his stepdaughter that occurred while they lived in the County of Yolo.
In 2023, Nichols was charged with 66 Felony counts, spanning nearly a decade of sexual abuse that began when the victim was 8 years old. Nichols used his role as a stay-at-home stepdad to isolate, pressure, and guilt-trip the victim into being subjected to repeated acts of sexual abuse while solely under his care.
The matter went to trial on January 27, 2025, where the victim, now a young adult, bravely testified and disclosed the grueling details of sexual and psychological abuse throughout the years. The jury found her credible and on February 14, 2025, found Nichols guilty of 62 Felony Counts including Child Molest, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, and Rape by Force or Fear.
At the sentencing hearing, the victim’s advocate read the impact statement that the victim courageously wrote, which stated: “In a way, my family and I will be serving a life sentence because this type of abuse is not something we can forget, unfortunately. [The defendant] abused me and my family in so many ways for so many years. My family and I will never get those years back. I will never be an innocent kid again.” The victim also stated, “As the years have passed, however, I have made new memories with my family, I have opened my eyes to the simple joys that life can bring, and I finally feel like I get to experience true freedom for the first time.”
“This sentence ensures that the defendant will never again have the opportunity to harm a child,” said District Attorney Jeff Reisig. “We are grateful to the victim for her strength and courage throughout this process, and we hope this outcome brings a measure of justice and closure. Our office remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and holding predators fully accountable.”
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