A local man accused of child exploitation and sexual battery, in addition to other charges, appeared in Bartholomew Circuit Court for an initial hearing Wednesday.
Four felony charges were filed Aug. 28 against Nicholas Duane Hickman, 39, of 1641 Azealea Drive, by Bartholomew County Prosecutor Bill Nash. Hickman is accused of felony child exploitation, sexual battery, strangulation and domestic battery and misdemeanor distribution of an intimate image knowing that the victim did not consent to the distribution of said image, according to court records.
A probable cause affidavit in the case states Hickman is accused of offering individuals an opportunity to perform sex acts with young girls through the Grindr dating cellphone application.
Hickman has been held in the Bartholomew County Jail since his arrest on Aug. 23, held in lieu of $500,000 bond, jail officials said. Bartholomew Circuit Court issued a protective order banning Hickman from having any contact with the victims in the case.
Although Hickman claimed earnings of $96,000 during the hearing, he told the judge that money, as well as his home, are all in his wife’s name. Hickman said he may have to request a public defender became he does not expect his wife’s assistance in his defense.
The judge gave Hickman until Nov. 4 to work with his parents to liquidate whatever assets are available to raise money to hire an attorney. A court hearing on attorney status is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. that day.
For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.
