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Ex-Saratoga High School assistant principal faces sex charges By Kate Carter A former Saratoga High School assistant principal was charged last week with a misdemeanor for requesting sexual favors from one of the school's students. John Martin Nichols, 41, who was known as Martin Nichols at Saratoga High, was arrested July 27 and charged with two counts of annoying a child under the age of 18. If convicted, he could be fined or spend up to a year in county jail, said Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office spokesman Deputy Terrance Helm. Nichols resigned from the school in March, said principal Kevin Skelly, and his last day was June 30. On July 17, a male student told officers at the West Valley Substation that he had been inappropriately propositioned by Nichols, once at a non-school function and once at Nichols' home, in February and March, Helms said. "From what I understand, it wasn't uncommon that he'd take students to lunch," he said. A warrant for Nichols' arrest was issued last week and he was arrested in Placentia, Orange County, and booked into Orange County Jail with a bail of $15,000. Helm said Nichols has likely made bail and will be arraigned Aug. 26 at Santa Clara County Superior Court. "He wasn't hiding or anything," Helm said. "I think it was known that he lived down there." Skelly said the school found out about the possible infraction July 19, when a sheriff's deputy asked questions of one of the assistant principals. Skelly returned from a family vacation to be present after Nichols' arrest. "I'm very surprised that this happened, if it happened," Skelly said. "It's just disappointing and saddening. When you're an educator you have a level of trust with kids. It's just a complete violation of trust." Nichols was hired in July, 2000, after a clear background check, said Cindy Ranii, superintendent of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District. He had been an assistant principal at schools in Southern California and at Half Moon Bay High School, Skelly said. As the assistant principal in charge of student discipline, buildings and grounds and some athletics responsibility, Nichols didn't have classroom contact with students but did hand out detentions and suspensions, Skelly said. Skelly sent home a letter to parents of all Saratoga High School students July 29, informing them of the situation, asking them to contact the sheriff's office if they have any information in the case and asking them to contact the school if they have any questions or concerns. School starts up again Aug. 26, and he said there was no reason that would change. "Of course, I worry about how it affects our school," Skelly said. "But I don't think it will. I think people have enough confidence in what we're doing." Helm asked that anyone with information or concerns contact Detective Guy Kuyat, 408.299.2211, or visit www.sccsheriff.org. |
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