Nuckolls was first arrested in Gosnell, Ark., after a woman who lived in the house where Nuckolls was staying while in town to preach a revival found a spy pen in her bathroom that contained video of her inside the bathroom.

Nuckolls pleaded guilty in Arkansas in exchange for five years of probation. Similar allegations investigated in Texas were outside the window of the state’s three-year statute of limitations. He was also investigated in Virginia, where video voyeurism is a misdemeanor.

Once a popular itinerant preacher speaking before up to 100 churches or groups a year, the Southern Baptist Convention publishing house hired Nuckolls to serve in the role of a camp pastor at Ridgecrest, N.C., from 2003 to 2006. In 2007 his role changed to a contract speaker at general assemblies and large gatherings.

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After his release from prison Nuckolls must register as a sex offender and undergo treatment and monitoring for another 10 years.

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In 2015, a judge reversed 10 of the 13 counts due to challenges with statute of limitations. He remained in prison serving out his 10 year sentence. As of May 2024, Nuckolls is out of prison and living in Mississippi according to the state sex offender registry.

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The Olive Branch traveling preacher, Sammy Nuckolls, was handcuffed and taken directly to jail after being sentenced to 10 years for video voyeurism.

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In court Friday Olive Branch Police investigator Jeff Abbott played a chilling tape during which Nuckolls can be seen time and time again, meticulously positioning a spy camera in bathrooms to videotape female guests as they undressed and showered. One of them says she was 17 years old at the time.

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Nuckolls was found guilty on 13 counts of the sexual violation for crimes dating back to 2006.

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During the sentencing phase, his victims described their anger, fear, humiliation and sleepless nights since his arrest in October of last year.

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The judge said there is no doubt Nuckolls has saved souls. But he admonished him for hiding behind the cloak of religion to commit a sickening and despicable crime.

"You violated the trust of these young women. You robbed them of dignity. First time I ever heard the expression video rape but I supposed that's what it is," said DeSoto County Judge Gerald Chatham.