Nicole Ballew “Nikki” Callaham, 33, of Anderson, South Carolina, United States has turned herself in. She is accused of having a prolonged and inappropriate relationship with a teenage boy.
Before this allegation, Callaham did not have a criminal history. She is a mother of one.
Nicole Callaham
In 2017, Callaham joined Homeland Park Primary School in Anderson as a teacher. In 2021, she allegedly started grooming Grant Strickland, then 14.
While employed as a teacher, Callaham worked with Project Challenge Playhouse, a nonprofit that works with the Anderson School District 5 to give students in Anderson the opportunity to participate in quality performing arts events. She was serving as the director of musical theater productions for a play when Strickland’s family first met her.
Strickland attended school in Greenville, South Carolina so the alleged crime extended into the jurisdiction of the Greenville Police Department. A parallel investigation is also being conducted by the police department of Clemson City, South Carolina.
In May 2025, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office started investigating Callaham. On May 21, 2025, she resigned from her job as a Homeland Park Primary School teacher.
On July 10, 2025, Callaham surrendered herself to the Anderson County Detention Center in Anderson. That day, she appeared in bond court where Strickland spoke and a detective read a letter written by Strickland’s mother.
Bond for Callaham was set at $40,000. She was ordered not to have contact with Strickland’s family.
Callaham was charged by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor. She was charged by the Greenville Police Department with four counts of unlawful conduct toward a child and eight counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
According to Callaham’s defense attorney, she is currently pregnant. Upon her release, she will be transferred to Greenville.
CONAN Daily 