By Brett Hambright
Intelligencer Journal/New Era
Lancaster, Pa. — Despite urging from prosecutors that George Nichols Sr. is a danger to motorists across Lancaster County, he was allowed Tuesday to stay free on bail.
But only under certain conditions.
Nichols, charged this month with causing a New Year’s Eve crash that killed two people, must wear a bracelet that monitors alcohol intake and his whereabouts, a local judge ordered.
County Judge Jeffery D. Wright also made Nichols surrender his driver’s license.
Any violation of the new conditions will result in a trip back to prison, Nichols was told.
However, Assistant District Attorney Christine Wilson suggested that’s where Nichols should be.
“He has a long-standing history of alcohol abuse. This is his fourth DUI arrest,” Wilson argued at a brief hearing. “We have a duty to do everything we can to protect the safety of motorists in the community.”
Nichols, who also has a record for other offenses, has failed to appear for prior court hearings at least three times, Wilson said.
Nichols is facing a mandatory 6-year prison sentence if convicted of the two most serious charges: homicide by vehicle while DUI.
“We would be requesting more than that” at sentencing, after convictions, Wilson told the judge.
Wilson asked that Nichols’ bail be raised to $200,000 from $50,000, which was posted last week through a local bail bondsman.
Nichols, 54, was drinking and celebrating on New Year’s Eve, before getting behind the wheel, according to reports.
He caused a high-speed crash on North Reading Road near Reamstown that killed Kelly Nagle, a 35-year-old mother of two, and her passenger, Michael Thavenius, 31.
Nichols and his passenger, Debra Fort, 49, were critically injured and spent days recovering in a hospital. Nichols appeared Tuesday in a wheelchair.
He was driving that night with a blood-alcohol level more than twice the state’s legal limit for drivers, police reported.
Wilson also pointed out that in recent court hearings, Nichols was getting around using a walker. She questioned the sudden need for a wheelchair.
Defense lawyer Kenneth Gardner countered that his client sees a doctor regularly and is constantly receiving therapy.
Ultimately, Wright kept the bail amount the same, but implemented new conditions.
“I share concern with the Commonwealth that bail came with no strings attached whatsoever,” Wright said.
A preliminary hearing is set for July 3.
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