One month after a high school teacher in Georgia was accused of sexually abusing a student, a warrant claimed that some of her students allegedly threatened to expose her OnlyFans account in order to get better grades.
Maris Nichols was accused of having sex with a student twice, and she was arrested in May in light of the allegations. Us Weekly previously reported that she was initially charged with two counts of sexual assault by a person with supervisory or disciplinary authority.
In a new search warrant obtained by WAFB on Monday, June 22, authorities said that Nichols, 25, was allegedly blackmailed by several students after they learned about her OnlyFans account.
Previous arrest warrants stated that Nichols had sex with a student on April 23 inside a schoolroom closet and a second time on May 2 inside a car. However, the new arrest warrant claims that she also had sex with a different student on May 3. Additionally, she allegedly sent inappropriate pictures and videos to several other victims at the school.
Nichols allegedly sent inappropriate messages from her phone, which included a video of her having sex with a student while she wore a sweater that says “Jesus loves you.”
The footage began to circulate among several students, and the minors allegedly threatened to use the inappropriate clips as blackmail in order to get better grades, according to the warrant. If Nichols did not give them better grades, the students allegedly said that they would make her OnlyFans account public.
It is not currently clear if any of the students will face charges for the alleged blackmail.
As the investigation into Nichols continues, she has now been charged with one count of tampering with evidence, two counts of child molestation, four counts of improper sexual contact by an employee and four counts of grooming of a minor.
During the investigation, police obtained a phone that belonged to Nichols’ family member and used to belong to the teacher, according to WSB-TV.
According to warrants viewed by the outlet, Nichols’ cousin was given the phone and Nichols’ mother attempted to have Nichols’ aunt give back the phone following her arrest.
Nichols’ aunt “wanted to turn the phone over to the sheriff’s office, afraid of any evidence being destroyed if the phone was returned” to Nichols’ mother, per the warrant.
Nichols’ mother was also accused of trying to get Alexander High School Principal Laura McAdams to give her Nichols’ work laptop amid the investigation.
It is not currently clear if Nichols has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding the case.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
