Clay County bus driver facing multiple child porn charges suspended

A Clay County Schools bus driver facing 13 charges involving child pornography was suspended Thursday, according to the Clay County Schools District.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office said Marion Keith Nichols, 56, was arrested Wednesday and is accused of possessing child pornography.

The Sheriff's Office said it received a cyber tip on May 14 that Nichols had child pornography.

Detectives checked trash at Nichols' residence where they found several electronic devices from Sept. 2016 through Dec. 2016.

During an interview with a detective, Nichols' showed the investigator photos on his phone of young girls in sexually suggestive poses and wearing makeup on a beach.

On July 28, Child Protection Team investigators searched through the devices to find several lewd images of female children. Investigators also found other images they deemed as child pornography.

Investigators said Nichols had photos that investigators had seen in previous cases.

"This type of crime will not be tolerated. We have made several arrests involving explicit images of children. My detectives often work closely with Homeland Security Investigations on child exploitation cases. This is a serious problem and we are cracking down on those who commit heinous acts on our kids," said Sheriff Darryl Daniels.

Nichols was hired in 2008 as a bus driver for Clay County School District Schools.

“As a district, we are shocked by the allegations regarding Mr. Nichols as well as devastated if found true. The District would like to reassure families and staff that at no time during the employment of Mr. Nichols were there any concerns relating to the current charges brought to our attention. We will continue to partner with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office as they lead this investigation,” said Superintendent Addison Davis.

In November 2016, Nichols was a Clay County superintendent candidate.

Cox Media Group