Sex Offender Arrested After Tip she was Babysitting Minors

Nicole Sullins

By Jessie Williams

A 36-year-old Lafayette woman, and registered sex offender, was charged with violating the sex offender registry after a tip led law enforcement to discover she had been babysitting two minor children.

According to the affidavit of complaint filed by Macon County Detective Bobby Jacoby, Nicole E. Sullins agreed to come to the Macon County Sheriff’s Department to speak with him.

When she arrived, Sullins appeared to be extremely intoxicated and was asleep in the front lobby when he came out to meet her.

The detective recalls that he woke her up, and she was unsteady on her feet. When asked if she was on any medication, she stated she takes Suboxone. 

During a mirandized interview, Sullins admitted to babysitting her neighbor’s children, both under the age of 13. She also admitted to knowing she was not supposed to be doing so due to sex offender registry rules. 

When asked if she had driven to the sheriff’s department herself, she said she was dropped off by a friend, however, the friend denied driving her there and said he was told by Sullins to meet her there. 

When asked again, Sullins admitted to driving and lying to law enforcement. 

Sullins arrived at the sheriff’s department in a vehicle registered to her, yet the she has no registered vehicles on file with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office or the Tennessee sex offender registry. 

She was charged with filing a false report, public intoxication and three counts of violating the sex offender registry. Her bond was set at $22,500, and she is scheduled to appear in general sessions court on Sept. 20, 2023.