Deborah Nicholls pleads not guilty in kids' deaths

Deborah Nicholls pleaded not guilty Friday to murder charges in the arson deaths of her three children in 2003.

Nicholls, 40, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and several other felonies in the deaths of Jay, 11, Sophia, 5, and Sierra Nicholls, 3.

Her children died March 7, 2003, in a fire at the family’s Village Seven home, 4107 Undimmed Circle.

Nicholls’ husband, Timothy Nicholls, is serving three life sentences in prison after an El Paso County jury convicted him last year of felony murder in the children’s deaths.

Deborah Nicholls pleaded not guilty to six counts of firstdegree murder, three counts of child abuse, illegal drug use and conspiracy to commit firstdegree murder.

Those charges were handed up by an El Paso County grand jury in November — just before her trial on 2005 charges of felony theft, intimidating a witness and drug possession was to begin.

Fourth Judicial District Judge Steven Pelican set Nicholls’ trial date for June 2.

Where the trial will be held was not decided.

The judge had moved her first trial out of El Paso County because of the publicity surrounding Timothy Nicholls’ April trial.

Her attorney, Deputy Public Defender Cindy Jones, has asked Pelican to keep that order in place. But 4th Judicial District Attorney John Newsome is attempting to keep the trial here.

The two sides will argue the matter at a Feb. 22 hearing.

Nicholls is being held without bond at the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center. She could face life in prison without parole if convicted of firstdegree murder.