Bomber’s son pleads not guilty in motorcycle theft

Associated Press — The troubled son of convicted Oklahoma City bombing co-conspirator Terry Nichols pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he stole a motorcycle in Las Vegas.

A Clark County District Court judge allowed Joshua Isaac Nichols to remain free on $6,000 bail and set trial for April 6, giving Nichols time to complete a residential drug treatment program.

Neither attorney Gary Guymon nor Judge Kathy Hardcastle identified the treatment facility.

Nichols, his mother, Lana Padilla, and Guymon declined to comment outside court.

Nichols, 26, had been sought on an arrest warrant issued last month following his indictment on felony charges of grand larceny and possession of a stolen vehicle. The charges carry a possible one to 10 years in state prison and a $10,000 fine, but Nichols can't be convicted of both, a Clark County prosecutor said.

Guymon said Nichols checked into the 22-week drug program after his release on $6,000 bail following his initial appearance Nov. 14 in Las Vegas Justice Court. The charges stem from Nichols' arrest Nov. 11 on allegations he stole a 2008 Yamaha R6 motorcycle from an acquaintance.

Nichols has had several encounters with police while living for more than a decade in Las Vegas with his mother. She divorced Terry Nichols years before the April 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

Terry Nichols, now 53, is serving life in federal prison without parole for his role in the bombing that killed 168 people. Convicted bomber Timothy McVeigh was executed in 2001.

Padilla has acknowledged her son has a drug problem, and she has expressed frustration with the notoriety her son's arrests receive.

Joshua Nichols served 18 months in a Nevada prison after he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, stolen vehicle and other charges in a 2005 scuffle with Las Vegas police.

He previously was sentenced to probation and a drug court diversion program in 2003 after pleading guilty to stealing a motor scooter to finance a drug habit.

Court documents show Nichols was arrested Aug. 8 for drug possession, transport of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding and failure to produce a license. Charges have not been filed in that case.