A Columbus police officer, Nicholas Duty, has pleaded guilty to charges of tampering with records in a federal investigation after initially entering a not guilty plea. Duty, 35, from Commercial Point, was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly altering or destroying records related to criminal investigations, including incidents involving his police body camera.
According to the indictment, Duty is accused of intentionally deactivating or removing his body camera during two separate occasions: once on October 31, 2023, and again on March 22, 2024. These actions allegedly took place while Duty was on duty in a marked police vehicle, in uniform, and during interactions with two women. One of these incidents reportedly involved a sexual encounter, and Duty was required to comply with Columbus Division of Police protocols that mandate body camera usage during such interactions.
Federal investigators contend that Duty’s actions were aimed at obstructing or influencing a federal investigation. Following his indictment, Duty appeared in federal court on January 22, 2025, where he changed his initial plea of not guilty to guilty.
Duty could face an 18 to 48-month prison sentence, though a date for his sentencing has not yet been scheduled. The case continues to draw attention as the legal proceedings unfold.
