Romance and Lies Lead to a Philadelphia Prosecutor's Fall
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A former supervisor in the homicide unit of the Philadelphia district attorney's office has been sentenced to a year of probation after pleading guilty to criminal mischief.
Authorities say Lynn Nichols helped remove a truck from "stolen" status to help her boyfriend. But later, after they broke up, Nichols admits she went to the original truck owner, Nicole Chandler -- who had dated the same man -- and instigated a new stolen-truck report.
Nichols, who authorities say was motivated by revenge, had been suspended from the DA's office and then resigned last year.
Today, in addition to the probation, she was ordered to pay $884 restitution to Chandler for damage to the truck and expenses related to its recovery.
"The lesson here today is to remove arrogance from your character, to display integrity in a manner in which you are honest and truthful, and display morality among the common people," said Chandler afterward.
But defense attorney Brian McMonigal says Nichols was misled by her former boyfriend and was later trying to make it right with actions she now regrets.