Monday, March 4, 2013

A former Wichita Police Officer and football player has pleaded guilty to child sex crimes before his scheduled trial was set to begin.

This morning, 33-year-old Gregory Nicks pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation of a child. In exchange for the plea, the state will drop two counts, but Nicks must agree never to appeal the conviction.

Nicks is a former Wichita Police Officer and football player for the Wichita Wild.

He was arrested at his Maize home in November 2011 for the crimes involving a 15-month-old girl.

His co-defendant, 29-year-old Luz Coronado was found guilty during a bench trial last August. A judge convicted her of one count of aggravated indecent liberties and four counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

In Coronado's trial, Judge Terry Pullman said in his finding that even though Nicks didn't actually participate in the taking of pictures or sexual acts with the girl, he "discussed, complimented, cajoled, rewarded and encouraged" the acts in anticipation of getting sexual arousal.

Sentencing for both Nicks and Coronado is scheduled for May 3rd.