Press Releases
06/28/2023
Jury Finds Manchester Man Guilty of Abusing 10-Month-Old Boy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Hartford, CT) - Sharmese L. Walcott, Hartford State’s Attorney, today announced that a jury in Hartford Superior Court on June 27, 2023, found Robert Nichols, age 44, of Manchester, guilty of the crimes of Assault in the First Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-59(a)(3), and two counts of Risk of Injury to a Child in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-21(a)(1). The Honorable Kevin C. Doyle presided over the trial.
According to evidence introduced at trial, in October 2013, Manchester Police were contacted by medical professionals regarding suspected child abuse of a 10-month-old boy. The victim suffered head trauma and the injuries were determined to be potentially life-threatening. 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. The witness stated Nichols also placed the baby in a sink full of ice cold water causing him to thrash about and strike his head. Nichols was the pastor of the Word of Faith Ministry in East Hartford. He and a number of his followers lived in Nichols’ Manchester home which was owned by the Ministry. Witnesses said Nichols claimed he communicated directly with God and used that claim to control his followers.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 30, 2023 in Hartford Superior Court.
On September 27, 2022, Nichols was found guilty by a Superior Court jury of two counts of Sexual Assault in the Fourth Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-73a (a)1A, and Risk of Injury to a Minor in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53-21(a)(2). Testimony in that trial showed the victim, a young boy, had been staying with the Nichols family during the summer of 2010. A Superior Court judge sentenced Nichols to 20 years in prison, execution suspended after 8 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.