A South Carolina teacher was seen smirking in court while her lawyer fought for her release after revealing she is pregnant.
Nicole Ballew Callaham, 33, voluntarily turned herself into the Anderson County Detention Center on Thursday for allegedly molesting a boy, Grant Stickland, when he was 14 years old.
On Monday, Callaham strolled into the courtroom for her bond hearing in Anderson, about 40 minutes outside of Greenville, smiling as she looked at her family support system, which included her fiancé.
‘Miss Callaham is eight to nine weeks pregnant,’ her attorney, William Epps III, told the judge as his client, dressed in a red prison jumpsuit, stood beside him.
Epps then asked the court to consider her presumed innocence and let her out on bond, insisting that she needs to receive prenatal care – something he said she has not gotten while behind bars.
He also said she poses no danger to the public, citing her eight-year career as an elementary school teacher and having no criminal history.
There was no suggestion by either the defense or the prosecution that the baby was conceived with the victim.
Greenville Municipal Court Judge Matthew Hawley granted her request for bond, but under several conditions. She was released after paying $120,000 in cash, according to jail records.
Nicole Ballew Callaham, 33, was seen smirking in court Monday after turning herself in last week for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old boy
Her accuser, Grant Strickland (pictured), now 18, told reporters he almost didn’t survive the ordeal
‘I am going to set a surety bond on each of these in the amount of $10,000, as they did in Anderson, for a total of $120,000 surety,’ Hawley said, adding that she must remain under house arrest with GPS monitoring and cannot contact Strickland.
Callaham must also undergo a mental and physical evaluation to determine if she can stand trial, the judge ordered.
Hawley established a ‘red zone’ Callaham must avoid so she does not come within a mile of the victim’s home in Anderson County.
Strickland, now 18, claims he was abused by the former kindergarten teacher from 2021 until 2023 in Anderson.
Authorities said the alleged abuse started when he was 14, his mom claims they first met at an audition for a Legally Blonde musical production which Callaham directed.
Callaham, who was previously married with children, is facing three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Speaking outside of court following the hearing last week, Strickland told reporters he almost didn’t survive the ordeal.
‘I would never want someone to go through what I went through, I don’t think most people could be strong enough to survive it. Because I almost didn’t,’ he said.
Her family, including her fiancé, are seen supporting her in court Monday
Strickland added that he hoped his coming forward would increase awareness of the issue.
He added: ‘All I really want the public to know is that though it’s a traumatic event I am here to fight and I’m not going to back down.’
Strickland continued: ‘I think awareness needs to be brought to things like this, just because I am a man doesn’t mean it should be shunned away. I was a child, I wasn’t a man, I was a boy.’
On seeing Callaham, who appeared in court via livestream, he said he felt like a weight had been lifted.
‘I don’t think I would’ve been able to move on if it wasn’t for the support from family and loved ones, and being able to come out about it’, he added.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office said that at the time of the allegations, Callaham was an Anderson County School teacher, she has since resigned.
The school district said that she had worked at Homeland Park Primary School from 2017 until she resigned in May of this year.
In a statement, the sheriff’s office said that Callaham would sign Strickland out of school and serve as a supervisor for after-school activities.
Her attorney, William Epps III, told the judge his client in pregnant as he asked for her to be released on bond
Callaham is charged with eight counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor, and four counts of unlawful conduct towards a child
Authorities said these repeated interactions led to a prolonged pattern of abuse, which they corroborated with warrants and help from Strickland and his family.
They added that Strickland came forward after he turned 18, having spent time processing the ‘trauma associated with the abuse.’
She is also facing a number of charges in nearby Greenville County, if the bond is met she will be transported there for a separate bond hearing.
The Greenville Police Department brought similar charges against her, alleging the conduct extended into their jurisdiction as Strickland attended school there.
Callaham was let out on a $120,000 cash bond Monday, according to jail records which say the bond was ‘satisfied.’
She will now be transported to the Greenville County for a separate bond hearing.
Callaham is charged with eight counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor, and four counts of unlawful conduct towards a child.
A trial date has not yet been set.
Strickland’s mother released a statement at the hearing also, saying: ‘We truly thought she believed in his talent and was helping him grow and build his confidence.
Callaham had worked at Homeland Park Primary School from 2017 until she resigned in May of this year
‘We trusted her completely with our son, as she seemed to be a wonderful mentor to our son and other young actors and actresses by investing in them.
‘Looking back, it sickens me knowing Nikki manipulated our son and our family. She was waiting on this opportunity, and she found the perfect victim and family to prey on perfect meaning.
‘She saw our son’s innocence and that he was very easily manipulated and drawn into her perfect meaning.
‘She saw a family who had a lot of love and kindness to share with those who needed it.’
The Clemson City Police Department is also investigating the case.
Daily Mail contacted Epps and Stickland for comment.
