A Hardin man facing 18 felony charges across three criminal cases is now set for jury trial. At the same time, he also awaits court proceedings on 20 additional felony counts filed in a separate case. Brant K. Nichols, 26, was charged in two separate cases in 2024, resulting in a total of eight felony charges. Those charges include one count of firstdegree statutory rape or attempted statutory rape, person less than 14 years of age, aggravated sexual offense; two counts of statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy, deviate sexual intercourse, person less than 14 years of age; one count of enticement or attempted enticement of a child, actor 21 years of age or older and child less than 15 years of age; and four counts of first-offense sexual misconduct involving a child under 15. Nichols recently appeared in court on both of the 2024 cases, at which time Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Kevin L. Walden set both matters for jury trial. Court records show a jury trial in case…