
A Fulton woman was recently arrested on felony charges of sexual misconduct with a minor and child solicitation after allegedly consenting to a sexual relationship between her husband and a teenager.
According to court documents, on Thursday, June 12, Nicole Boardman, 31, of Fulton, was arrested and booked at the Fulton County Detention Center on charges of sexual misconduct with a minor and child solicitation, both Level 5 felonies.
The allegations were officially brought to light May 27, when a caseworker from the Indiana Department of Child Services contacted the Fulton County Sheriff's Office about a report of a minor who claimed to have engaged in a sexual relationship with an adult couple from the town of Fulton that started when the teen had been 14-years-old.
When speaking with officers the minor identified the adults as being 31-year-old Zachary Cook and Boardman. The minor claimed the relationship was initially started by Cook, who lived in the victim's home for a few weeks while he and Boardman went through a brief separation. She stated Cook allegedly had not initiated a sexual relationship with the teen until he found out she was pregnant, therefore ruling Cook out as the father of her child.
When Cook and Boardman rekindled their relationship the victim claimed she eventually developed a close friendship with Boardman as well, with Boardman often giving her pregnancy and sexual advise, even going as far as to buying the teen a sex toy. The minor said she did not have an exclusive sexual relationship with Boardman, but that she did engage in a sexual relationship with Boardman and Cook together. The minor said Boardman had initially not wanted a relationship with the teen and put restrictions to how far Cook and the minor could go sexually. She further described that over time Cook became very pushy and eventually convinced Boardman to engage in the relationship.
When questioned by officers on May 28, Boardman stated she tried being a "mother figure" to the pregnant teen, who didn't have a mother around, and often gave the teen advice on how to take care of herself during her pregnancy. She denied ever giving Cook permission to have a sexual relationship with the teen. Boardman further stated that Cook had been a "father figure" to the victim, and that the couple had provided their home to the minor as a stable, safe place for her to go. Boardman admitted to officers that she felt Cook's relationship with the minor had been sexual abuse.
Last December, Cook was arrested on warrants charging him with failure to appear in court on original charges of child molesting, driving while suspended and possession of marijuana. During his arrest, Cook reportedly attempted to elude officers and was located hiding in a shed near his home, leading him to receive additional charges of resisting law enforcement, battery on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement animal and possession of marijuana.
He was booked at the Fulton County Detention Center, where he still remains. At the time of Cook's arrest in December, Boardman was also arrested and charged with obstructing justice and assisting a criminal, both Level 6 felonies. Investigators requested Cook to be brought to an interview room by jail staff on May 28. When questioned about the incident, Cook reportedly denied him nor Boardman having a sexual relationship with the teen.
According to a probable cause affidavit, on June 10 Cook was further charged with sexual misconduct with minor and child solicitation, both Level 5 felonies.