Cops Say Man Admitted To Raping Young Boys

Only WFTV was there Friday when the FBI raided a Pine Hills home. Neighbors called WFTV when they saw agents raiding the house on Bon Air Drive near Silver Star Road (see map) Friday morning.

It's a disturbing case. Not only did the suspect allegedly have child porn, he also lived near a school and admitted he's had sex with children multiple times over the past 20 years.

In the middle of the Orange County neighborhood, agents from the Innocent Images Unit, specializing in child porn cases, carried out boxes and bags of computer equipment.

"I see them in my front yard, trying to figure out what was going on," neighbor Mike Garcia said.

WFTV tracked down the homeowner, Howard Nickelsen, at his dry cleaning business.

"You know why the FBI was at your house this morning?” WFTV reporter Jeff Deal asked.

“Yeah,” Nickelsen replied.

“Why were they there?” Deal asked.

“I ain’t telling you," he answered.

"Somebody in your house under arrest?”

“No.”

“Somebody involved in child porn?”

“I don't know," Nickelsen replied.

But later, WFTV found out, his son, 45-year-old Jerry Nickelsen, was arrested for possessing and distributing child porn over the Internet. Officers said he told investigators he had done it over the past 20 years and admitted to having sex with boys as young as 5 years old.

The home is right across from Pinewood Elementary School. From the front of the house, the back of the school can be seen.

"You could see the kids playing from here every day at recess," neighbor Mike Garcia said.

It's a situation concerning to investigators and neighbors who are just glad he's off the streets.

WFTV found some websites indicating the suspect might also be involved in Deaf Ministry at a local church.