An Augusta man’s trial on sexual assault charges was delayed 24 hours Tuesday, March 22, to give prosecutor’s time to track down the victim.
Judge John Flythe granted the delay in the Richmond County Superior Court trial of Nicholas Mims, 47. He has been held without bond since his July 14, 2021. He was arrested on charges that include rape.
Mims, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, filed a demand for a speedy trial in January, which requires that state to try him within two terms of court or the charges must be dropped. In Augusta, that is about five months.
The crimes Mims is accused of committing occurred between Sept. 8, 2014, a day after the alleged victim turned 16, and March 31, 2018. An investigation into the allegations against Mims didn’t begin until last year when the alleged victim reported Mims had impregnated her during the assaults. The prosecution has DNA evidence to present at trial, according to court records.
The judge instructed the jurors in the case, who have yet to be sworn in as members of the jury, to be back for the trial to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 23.
Assistant District Attorney William Hammond presented an order for Flythe to sign which enables a law enforcement agency to hold the alleged victim. Hammond brought the proposed order to court Tuesday after an investigator found the woman’s current home unoccupied and she did not respond to calls.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
