Former NCTA teacher pleads guilty

STOCKVILLE -- The former Curtis college teacher accused of felony theft has changed his plea to guilty and will be sentenced July 30.

The charges against Steen D. Nichols were amended from Class III felony theft by unlawful taking to Class IV felony theft by unlawful taking and misappropriation of funds in court June 9. Nichols was accused of using a credit card belonging to the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture to purchase electronic equipment for his own use.

According to the Hi-Line Enterprise newspaper, Nichols purchased these items with the college credit card: 528 DVD movies, 28 X-Box games, a Sony VCR, a Sony surround-sound system, two digital cameras, a flat-screen computer monitor, a table saw and a motorcycle jack.

The Hi-Line reported the items that Nichols purchased are valued at $10,000 to $15,000.

All were confiscated by investigating officers from the University of Nebraska.

Cory O'Brien, the associate state attorney general assigned to the case, told District Court Judge John Battershell that Nichols told college personnel the purchases were software and were for educational purposes.

O'Brien recommended probation and restitution of $100 to $200 based upon the depreciated value of the equipment purchased by Nichols.

Nichols was relieved of his position as adjunct instructor and information systems manager upon his arrest in September 2003.

Charges were filed in December 2003.