A suspect charged in connection with a frightening home invasion caught on camera in Fairfield made his first court appearance Monday in Solano County Superior Court.
Jason Thomas Nichols, 30, was appointed a public defender and Judge William J. Pendergast III increased his bail to $250,000, setting a preliminary hearing for April 24 at 10 a.m. and a readiness conference for 8:30 a.m. April 23, both in Department 25 with Judge Janice Williams.
Judge Pendergast ordered the higher bail following a plea from the Deputy District Attorney Steven Tali, who said it was the only way to ensure the safety of the victims in the neighborhood where Nichols is accused of forcing his way into a home occupied by a pregnant woman and her 5-year-old son.
He was arrested Friday after police say he forced his way into the home on Burbank Court, a frightening incident caught on the home’s outdoor and indoor security cameras that spread rapidly across social media over the weekend.
The viral videos show the moment the Fairfield homeowner confronted the suspect, who had forced his way inside while a woman and child were in the house.
Authorities say Nichols attempted to break into the home by kicking in the front door. When that failed, police said, he entered through a sliding glass door.
In court Monday, Tali said investigators had an enhanced bail order approved but that on Thursday, when Nichols was set to have his arraignment, he refused to come into the courtroom and the case set for Friday to try again when bail was lowered.
Tali argued to have the enhanced bail reinstated because Nichols’ residence is right behind the home he is accused of terrorizing.
“He made threats saying ‘I’m going to kill you’ and ‘take you out,’” Tali noted. “Given the threats and where he lives there is not other way to safeguard the victims in this case.”
Judge Pendergast agreed but said the bail could be lowered in the future depending on a pretrial services report. A pretrial service report is a confidential document prepared by the Probation Department to assist judges in deciding a defendants potential flight risk or danger to the community.
Nichols, wearing a striped jail jumpsuit and shackled at the waist, smiled and rolled his eyes through some of the proceedings.
Following the judge’s ruling, before exiting the court back to jail custody, Nichols turned to the courtroom seating area where a number of media were present and taking photos, saying, “Thank you all for being here.”
Video from the home’s security system shows Nichols, claiming in the video to be “Harry Dresden” from the popular Jim Butcher Dresden File novels, outside the residence, shouting “Open this door or I’m breaking it down” and threatening to “end” the homeowner. Nichols pounded on the door, then grabbed a decorative bell, breaking it and using the pull chain from in to beat on the door.
At the time, the homeowner was away but monitored the property through the camera system and rushed back. Upon arrival, the homeowner armed himself with a shovel before confronting Nichols inside the home, police said.
A second video from inside the house shows the confrontation with the homeowner ordering him out. A violent struggle followed, off camera, leaving both men with head injuries, police said. Then the homeowner can be seen talking to him and asking if he is “military” before getting him outside as police arrived.
Officers arrived within minutes and found Nichols outside the residence, where he was taken into custody without further incident. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment before being booked into the Solano County Jail on multiple felony charges including assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, making criminal threats, burlary and vandalism. Authorities also obtained a bail enhancement, police said.
Police said the woman and child inside the home were not physically injured.
Police said they were aware of the viral video and understood the concern it generated in the community. They also credited the homeowner’s actions in protecting his family while officers were en route.
Nichols remains in Solano county jail on $35,000 bail.
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