Former Montana Teacher Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Prosecutors say they will recommend a sentence of nearly 20 years for a former Livingston and Billings West High School teacher and basketball coach who pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting children and distributing child pornography.

The Billings Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/1M2XZbf ) that 42-year-old Scott James Nichols is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 7 for his guilty pleas to two counts of coercion and enticement, two counts of attempted coercion and one count of child porn distribution.

Nichols' attorney is asking for a 10-year sentence, which is the minimum mandatory sentence for coercion.

Prosecutors say Nichols coerced or attempted to coerce four girls, who ranged in age from about 13 to 16, to engage in sexually explicit conduct in December 2012 and January 2013 for recording and distribution.