A Vigo County judge sentenced Chad Nichols, 25, of Georgetown, Illinois, to 45 years in prison yesterday for the 2020 murder of a 21-month-old boy. Nichols pleaded guilty to the murder charge in a deal that dismissed counts of battery and neglect related to the toddler’s death from blunt-force head injuries. Though he received credit for time already served, he is required to serve at least 26 years before he can petition for any sentence reduction.