Child rape suspect bolts from court before conviction; arrest warrant issued
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A judge has issued a nationwide arrest warrant for a 79-year-old Montana man who fled from court in Kennewick just before a jury found him guilty of raping a young boy for several years.
The Tri-City Herald reports that William George Nicol left the Benton County Justice Center on Friday during a court recess. He was later convicted of child rape and child molestation charges.
Court documents say the boy told a relative in 2015 he had been sexually abused by Nicol.
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Nicol denied the allegations in court, saying the boy was lying.
The Plains, Montana, man had been out of custody after posting $10,000 bail during trial. He reportedly told his attorney he was going to use the restroom before he left court and didn't return.