In November 2022, multiple survivors came forward and reported Jacob Nichols for sexual crimes that allegedly spanned over a decade. He was charged with four counts of rape and two counts involving the production of child pornography. We were told he would remain unbondable until trial so survivors could feel safe and protected while the case moved forward.

Instead, after invoking his right to a speedy trial, Jacob Nichols was released on bond in September 2023 without an ankle monitor. He was permitted to work and leave for appointments while survivors were left living in fear and uncertainty.

Then, in November 2025, we were informed that he would serve approximately one year in jail due to reduced charges tied to a plea agreement. Many survivors were emotionally exhausted, traumatized, and afraid to testify after years of stress and delays. Out of fear and desperation, some agreed to the reduced sentence because we believed it was the only option left.

We were promised by the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and victim advocates that we would be notified before his release from jail. That promise was broken.

No phone call came. No warning was given.

Some survivors only discovered Jacob Nichols had been released because they were enrolled in VINELink notifications. He was released during one of the busiest holidays of the year — while families were shopping, cooking out, gathering publicly, and trying to feel safe. Survivors could have unexpectedly encountered the man accused and convicted in connection with these crimes without any preparation or protection.

This failure retraumatized survivors who had already endured years of pain, fear, and silence.

Jacob Nichols served only a few months for crimes that permanently altered lives. Survivors feel abandoned not only by him, but by the very system that promised to protect them.

We are calling for accountability, transparency, and justice.

We believe this case deserves to go to full trial. We believe survivors deserve to be heard. We believe victims should never be left uninformed about the release of someone connected to violent sexual crimes.

This petition calls on:

• The Carroll County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office
• Carroll County officials
• Virginia judicial authorities
• Victim advocacy organizations
  to review this case, investigate the failures in victim notification, and pursue every possible legal avenue to ensure justice is fully served.

Survivors should not have to live in fear while systems fail behind closed doors.

We are speaking now because silence protected the wrong person for far too long.