Ryan Nichols, 35, a Longview native pardoned for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, was given 12 months' probation Thursday in Harrison County. He pleaded no contest to a harassment charge tied to social media incidents between March 18 and April 8.
Under the plea bargain between the state and the defense, a separate deadly conduct case will not move forward unless Nichols violates his probation. That case involves a May dispute outside the Oak Grove Baptist Church in Harleton. Harrison County Assistant District Attorney Charlotte Reeves, who prosecuted the case, said the deadly conduct charge has not been dropped. "It's in a neutral area right now," she said. If Nichols violates probation, prosecutors can pursue that charge at their discretion.
Reeves said Nichols must complete 96 hours of community service. She said the parties in both cases were on board with the plea deal. Nichols was arrested May 10 by Harrison County deputies after a caller reported that a person reached for a firearm during the dispute. Deputies wrote in a probable cause affidavit that Nichols pulled up his shirt, displayed a firearm and placed his hand on the grip.