A former Lincoln County Public Schools music teacher is facing 24 sex crime charges involving at least four students.

BRITTAIN LEE NICHOLS

Brittain Lee Nichols, 29, of Fort Mill, South Carolina, was arrested just before noon on April 17. He was charged with 12 counts of taking indecent liberties with a student and 12 counts of taking indecent liberties with a child.

Nichols was issued a $150,000 secure bond which he posted and was released just before 4 p.m. on the same day as his arrest.

Lincolnton Police indicated their investigation revealed Nichols allegedly had taken indecent liberties with at least four children. The ages of the alleged victims were not released.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to call Detective Diallo at 704-736-8900.

Nichols was employed as a music teacher at Battleground Elementary School in Lincolnton. He had also apparently worked with marching bands at East Lincoln High School and North Lincoln High School.

Lincoln County Schools released the following statement:

Once we were made aware of these allegations, Lincoln County Schools internally investigated and turned over all information to law enforcement in mid to late February.
The former employee was placed on administrative leave and during this time the former employee resigned from his position as a music teacher at Battleground Elementary.
In addition, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was made aware of these allegations. This person is no longer working for Lincoln County Schools.

Nichols has a teaching license on file with the state in the area of “Music K-12.” The license was issued in July 2020 and will expire in June 2026.  The license may be revoked by the state ahead of its expiration date pending adjudication of Nichols’ case.