MANCHESTER, CT — A 44-year-old Manchester man and pastor of a church in East Hartford has been found guilty in a child abuse case involving an infant. He was also convicted of sexual assault less than a year ago.
Hartford State’s Attorney Sharmese L. Walcott said that a jury in Hartford Superior Court Tuesday found Robert Nichols guilty of first-degree assault and two counts of risk of injury to a child. Judge Kevin C. Doyle presided over the trial.
According to evidence introduced at trial, in October 2013, Manchester Police were contacted by “medical professionals” about the suspected abuse of a 10-month-old boy. The boy suffered head trauma and the injuries were determined to be potentially life-threatening, case records show.
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One witness testified she witnessed Nichols wrap the baby in a tight swaddle and slam him to the floor numerous times causing him to strike his head, according to case records. The witness stated that Nichols also placed the baby in a sink full of ice cold water causing him to thrash about and strike his head, court records show.
Nichols was the pastor of the Word of Faith Ministry in East Hartford.
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He and a number of his followers lived in Nichols’ Manchester home, which was owned by the ministry, according to case records. Witnesses said Nichols claimed he communicated directly with God and used that claim to control his followers, according to case records.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug 30 in Hartford Superior Court.
On September 27, Nichols was found guilty by a Superior Court jury of two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. Testimony in that trial showed the victim, a young boy, had been staying with the Nichols family during the summer of 2010. Nichols was sentenced to 20 years in prison, execution suspended after eight years served, and 10 years of probation.
Both cases were prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Michael W. Riley, with the assistance of Inspector Luis Rodriguez.
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