Here’s a revised version of the article (approx. 300 words, six paragraphs):

Ernest Nichols, a former middle school teacher convicted of serious sexual crimes, was found dead in his prison cell at Greene Correctional Institution in Maury, North Carolina, on October 5, 2025. He had been serving a 15‑year sentence for statutory rape, with a projected release date in September 2027.

Before his incarceration, Nichols had worked for 14 years as a physical education teacher at Ranson Middle School in Charlotte.He was suspended, barred from school property, and ultimately convicted following allegations involving a teenage girl (not a student at his school), which included repeated assaults over six months.

Prison staff found Nichols unresponsive around 6:49 a.m., performed life‑saving efforts, and emergency medical services later pronounced him dead at 7:22 a.m. The prison was placed on lockdown pending investigation.

Authorities quickly moved to charge a fellow inmate. Wilbert Baldwin, 41, already serving time for second‑degree murder, has been served a murder warrant in connection with Nichols’ death.  Baldwin was held without bond and returned to custody as the investigation proceeds under the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).

The case has drawn attention to how violent incidents within prisons can involve individuals already serving serious sentences.  Investigators continue to work alongside Greene County officials.

This development underscores both the severity of Nichols’ past crimes and the ongoing risks within correctional facilities. As the investigation unfolds, many await clarity about motive and prison safety protocols.