Janiqua Redditt
April 17, 2015
Fundamentals of Criminal Justice
1
Through the Loophole
Brian Gene Nichols was born on December 10, 1971. Raised in Baltimore, Maryland,
Brian grew up in a middle class family, where he attended an all-boys catholic school. Nichols
then went onto Kutztown University to play football at the height and weight of 6’1 and 210lbs
from 1989-1990. During his college career Brian was arrested three times, and was charged for
terroristic threats, assaults, disorderly conduct, and harassment, two of which he plead guilty too
and the others were later dropped. Upon leaving Kutztown University, Nichols was arrested
twice in one month for criminal trespassing, misdemeanor criminal mischief, and disorderly
conduct, which were dropped later. Between the years of 1992 and 1993 Nichols attended
Newberry College to play football, but was then kicked off for stealing things from another
student’s dorm rooms. Around the same time he became the father of a little girl by his then
girlfriend, Stephanie Jay.
After dropping out of school, in 1995, for the second time, Brian moved to Georgia
where he got a job at HP, and being put on probation a year later for felony drug possession from
1996 to 1999. Later in 2004, Brian was arrested the brutal assault of his former girlfriend of 8
years after their break up and finding out that she was dating, a minister from the church they
attended. After forcing his way into her home, bonding her with duct tape, and raping her at
gunpoint, Brian was charged with rape, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated
sodomy, burglary, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm during commission of a crime.
Janiqua Redditt
April 17, 2015
Fundamentals of Criminal Justice
2
Around the same time Brian once again become a father to little boy by his ex-girlfriend,
Sonya Meredith. This case ultimately ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury, but after learning of
his retrial in 2005, Nichol’s mother and close friends warned the DA office of his violent
behavior and that Brian had plans to escape. One friend even divulged information that Nichols
requested them to leave a credit card in the suit pocket he would be wearing to court. With the
closed ears and blind eyes of those who are supposed to protect and serve, the pleas of those who
care and the evidence of a troubled past of now infamous Brian Nichols led to the biggest and
most violent manhunt in Georgia history.
“And the manhunt is on for 33yr old Brian Nichols, a wanted fugitive for the multiple
shooting deaths at the Fulton County courthouse earlier today. I’m Aungelique Proctor and this is
Fox 5 news.” Shocked and on edge viewers are glued to the screen awaiting updates on the
search for Brian Nichols, who escaped from custody of his appointed court officers. One officer,
of who was escorting Mr. Nichols, fell victim this violent crime having been shot and killed by
her own weapon. Many speculations have surrounded this very infamous case from inside jobs,
to a mastermind plan to escape prior to transportation, to an improve last minute decision.
Though there are many divided reasoning, one conclusion we can all agree on is that this
incident and others are avoidable with the hyper vigilance of those that work around criminals. In
the criminal case of Brian Nichols, the vulnerability, underly prepared, and relaxed domineer law
enforcement has due to the monotonous routine, emphasis on equality, when it comes to
transporting criminals, ensued one of Georgia’s greatest manhunt and tragedies to ever happen
under the watchful eye of the penal system.
Janiqua Redditt
April 17, 2015
Fundamentals of Criminal Justice
3
Even though law enforcement is considered all the same, Correction Officers are more
vulnerable than others. Law enforcers no matter the title are considered of the same statutes but
there are different requirements, tactics, and training for each division that leave some more open
than others. For instance, a swat team member may carry way more artillery and weapons on
them than a campus cop would. According to Jeff Roberts, the Content Marketing Editor at
Colleges Education at Rasmussen College, state’s “Corrections officers or COs are responsible
for enforcing rules and regulations inside a state or federal prison, jail or rehabilitative or
correctional facility. They supervise inmates during meals, recreation, work and other daily
activities. Both COs and deputy sheriffs are tasked with transporting prisoners between
