Doug and Kelly Nichols bench trial

Doug and Kelly Nichols appear before a Macon County Court judge on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2024 for the beginning of their bench trial.

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — A Decatur couple found guilty on possession of child pornography charges was set to be sentenced Thursday but had that sentencing delayed. 

Doug and Kelly Nichols were both found guilty of possessing child pornography in Macon County Court last month.

Each charge can carry a sentence between two to seven years. Kelly was also found guilty of filming child pornography content, which requires mandatory prison time.

Both will be registered sex offenders for life.

Evidence presented during the trial included images and videos of the Nichols' daughters and other relatives, who were all minors, while nude. These were taken over the span of a decade, with the earliest image taken in 2002.

Both of the Nichols' adult daughters testified in defense of their parents, telling the court they grew up in a loving home.

A status hearing for Doug's remaining charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault will also take place Thursday.

WAND News learned the reason for the sentencing delay was that they did not have their sex offender evaluations completed in time. 

We also learned they will be allowed to leave the state on December 13 for their daughter's graduation. 

When a new sentencing date is announced, we will update this story. 

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