The quaint town of Middleburg, typically a hub for families enjoying the local Locked In escape room, was rocked by unsettling news as the Clay County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of business co-owner John Nicholls, on 10 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). As reported by News4Jax, an extensive investigation—that spanned months and involved the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force—culminated in a search of Nicholls’ residence and the escape room business he operated.
According to First Coast News, the operation commenced early yesterday morning, noticeably marked by a strong law enforcement presence. Electronic devices were seized from both locations, following tips that anchored the investigation. A relative of a First Coast News employee was staying down the street, who was jerked awake to the sounds of a police intercom and saw the SWAT team, remarked, “When I woke up the first thing I heard was the police intercom saying that they were outside this address and that they were coming in for a search warrant." In light of these discoveries, Nicholls, who also works as a real estate agent, saw his reputation among locals swiftly fall under scrutiny, as they expressed their dismay and disgust over the serious allegations leveled against their once-trusted neighbor.
Onlookers described a mix of surprise and revulsion as the neighborhood processed the unsettling revelations. One resident, having dawned upon nearly two decades of proximity to Nicholls, told First Coast News, I’m "disgusted that her children grew up down the street from someone who has now been arrested for possessing child sexual abuse material.” On one hand, this sense of betrayal was shared by those who knew Nicholls in different capacities. For instance, one man who played golf with Nicholls occasionally vouched for his cordial demeanor.
The case, still unfolding, continues to be probed by authorities, with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office maintaining an active investigation. The particulars of the CSAM discovered, and the depth of Nicholls' involvement, have not been publicly detailed. Details regarding the ongoing procedures will be reported by Action News Jax as they obtain further information. Residents have been left to reconcile the alleged illicit activities with the family-friendly façade that once defined their neighborhood's escape room.
