South Carolina man charged with sexually assaulting a child at the Jersey Shore, officials say

A South Carolina man was arrested and will be brought back to New Jersey after being charged with sexually assaulting a child, according to the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.

An investigation was launched on Feb. 24 by the Special Victims Unit at the prosecutor’s office and the Cape May City Police Department after someone reported that a minor was sexually assaulted.

Investigators were able to identify William Nichols, 32, as the suspect and he was charged with aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Nichols was found to be living in Florence County, South Carolina, and was arrested by the sheriff’s department there on March 1, officials said.

He is currently being held at the Florence County Correctional Facility while waiting to be extradited to Cape May County.

Nichols could face a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life in prison and will need to serve 25 years before he has the chance for parole under the Jessica Lunsford Act.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at 609-465-1135. You can also submit an anonymous tip through their website by clicking here.

An anonymous tip can also be submitted to the Cape May County Sheriff’s tip line by clicking here.