Judge rules Doug Nichols trial to remain in Macon County

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Doug Nichols returned to a Macon County courtroom Tuesday morning to request that his trial be moved to another county. His attorney argued that the case was too well known in Macon County for Nichols to get an impartial jury.

The attorney also said Doug Nichols' first case had received too much media attention to provide him with an impartial second case.

Ultimately, Associate Judge Rodney Forbes ruled the trial would remain in Macon County.

Doug Nichols attended the hearing today for the first time as a free man since he was released from prison late last week. The Illinois Appellate Court for the Fifth District overturned his conviction for possessing child pornography, which carried a sentence of three years in prison.

Doug Nichols' wife, Kelly, also had her conviction overturned. Neither is in custody.