Search warrants describe new evidence requests in the investigation of former Alexander High School teacher Maris Nichols.
DOUGLAS COUNTY, GA — Newly filed search warrants say a former Douglas County teacher accused of sexual misconduct involving students was allegedly blackmailed for better grades after some students learned she operated an OnlyFans account.
Maris Nichols, 25, a former Alexander High School science teacher, is facing a widening criminal case that now involves six teenagers, digital records and evidence seized from school and personal devices. The warrants show investigators are seeking messages, photos, videos, account records and physical evidence as they try to determine what happened and who may have known about it.
Nichols was first arrested in May after authorities accused her of having sexual contact with a student twice, once in a classroom closet on April 23 and again in a vehicle on May 2. Later warrants added allegations involving five more teenagers. Court records say some of the students were Alexander High School students, and earlier reporting said two teenagers in the case were younger than 16. Douglas County School System spokesperson Portia Lake said after the first arrest that the district was “troubled” by the allegations and was cooperating with law enforcement.
The newer search warrants say the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office served more than a dozen warrants tied to the case. They sought records from OnlyFans, Snapchat and AT&T, along with phones and other materials connected to Nichols, students and family members. One warrant sought genetic evidence and fingerprints from two teenagers. Another sought surveillance footage from St. Andrews Golf Course, where investigators allege Nichols met a student. A sweater with the words “Jesus Loves You” also was requested after authorities said it appeared in a video tied to the investigation.
Investigators also searched areas at Alexander High School, including a classroom and a closet where some of the alleged conduct took place, according to warrants. Deputies photographed and collected evidence from Nichols’ car and from the school setting. The filings say authorities are trying to recover text messages, photos and videos from multiple phones. The warrants do not say whether all requested records have been turned over, and they do not state whether investigators have completed their review of the digital evidence.
The case expanded about two weeks after Nichols’ first arrest. Additional warrants accused her of misconduct involving five more teenagers and added charges including child molestation, improper sexual contact by an employee, grooming of a minor and tampering with evidence. One warrant said Nichols told a child on May 5 to delete explicit messages before her first arrest. Nichols’ attorney, Christy Draper, said her client is presumed innocent and that the defense is committed to making sure every relevant fact is brought forward.
The warrants also describe attempts by Nichols’ relatives to get access to devices after her arrest. One phone that had belonged to Nichols was in the possession of a family member, according to the filings. The warrants say Nichols’ mother tried to have the phone returned, while another relative wanted it turned over to the sheriff’s office because she feared evidence could be destroyed. Investigators also said Nichols’ mother tried to get Alexander High School Principal Laura McAdams to release Nichols’ work laptop.
Alexander High School is in Douglasville, west of Atlanta. Nichols had worked at the school as a science teacher and had also been connected to football operations. The school district said it opened its own investigation and was cooperating with authorities. In a written statement, the district said student safety was its highest priority and that the alleged conduct violated the professional standards required of employees. Nichols was removed from the school’s website after the allegations surfaced.
The criminal case remains active in Douglas County. Nichols has been arrested twice, and court records show she was released on bond after the added charges were filed. The sheriff’s office has not announced the end of the investigation. The next major step is the continued review of search warrant returns, digital records and physical evidence collected from the school, vehicles, phones and online accounts.
As of Friday, authorities had not publicly released a full timeline for when the searches will be completed or whether more charges could be filed. The case now rests on the evidence gathered through the warrants and any future court filings in Douglas County.
Author note: Last updated June 19, 2026.