Former Columbus police officer pleads guilty to destroying, altering records by turning off body worn camera during encounters with women while on duty

Press Release

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A former Columbus police officer offered a guilty plea in federal court here today for destroying or altering records related to a criminal investigation.

Nicholas P. Duty, 35, of Commercial Point, Ohio, admitted to two counts of the crime. The plea agreement includes a sentencing recommendation of 18 to 48 months in prison.

According to court documents, on two occasions, Duty destroyed, altered or falsified records by purposefully deactivating or removing his police body worn camera. Duty's actions were intended to impede, obstruct or influence a federal investigation.

In February 2024, Columbus police officers were working street-level prostitution crimes in the area of Sullivant Avenue on the west side of Columbus when a witness expressed concerns about Duty's on-duty activities. Duty was positively identified during the administration of a blind photo array.

Further investigation revealed that, on Oct. 31, 2023, and March 22, 2024, Duty deactivated or removed his body worn camera during interactions with two women, including during a sexual encounter.

During the incidents, Duty was on duty, wearing a police uniform, in a marked police vehicle and assigned a body worn camera. He knew he was required to comply with Columbus Division of Police policies for wearing the division-issued camera.

On Halloween 2023, the first woman had called Columbus police and asked for assistance, stating her boyfriend was attempting to kill himself. Duty transported the woman following the call and disabled his body worn and in-car cameras. Duty and the woman exchanged phone numbers and Duty reached out to her, including in April 2024 a few days before his arrest.

On March 22, 2024, video footage shows Duty speaking with the second woman near the Sunoco station at Sullivant and Clarendon avenues. The woman confirmed that Duty had money with him and asked if he wanted to go to their "normal spot." Duty drove away in his police vehicle, relocated to a different alley, and met up with the woman. Duty removed his body worn camera and blocked it from recording video. The camera, however, still recorded audio from the incident. The audio recording reveals Duty asking the woman several times to have sex. She declines but performs oral sex on Duty. The two discuss meeting up later for sex and Duty is reported to have paid the woman $20.

Duty was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He had been employed with the Columbus Division of Police since June 2018.

United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Daryl S. McCormick, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola announced the plea offered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King.

Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Kevin W. Kelley are representing the United States in this case, which is being investigated by the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission's Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force.

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Updated January 24, 2025