COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A former Columbus police officer who was charged with destroying or altering records related to a criminal investigation, changed his plea in federal court Wednesday. According to the United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Ohio, Nicholas Duty, 35, admitted to two counts of falsifying records, charges which stem from allegations that Duty destroyed or altered records related to a criminal investigation on more than one occasion. Court records indicate that Duty destroyed, altered or falsified records by purposely deactivating or removing his police body worn camera during multiple encounters with women, with the intention of impeding, obstructing or influencing a federal investigation. Governor creates group to investigate how missing persons cases are handled in Ohio Allegations began in Feb. 2024, when Columbus police officers were working street-level prostitution crimes in the Hilltop area of Sullivant avenue in west Columbus. A witness expressed concerns about Duty’s on-duty activity, and he was positively identified during a blind photo array. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that further investigation revealed that, on Oct. 31, 2023, and March 22, 2024, Duty deactivated or removed his body worn camera during interactions with two women, including during a sexual encounter. Nicholas Duty (Courtesy/Butler County Sheriff's Office) On Halloween 2023, the first woman had called Columbus police and asked for assistance, stating her boyfriend was attempting to kill himself. Duty transported the woman following the call and disabled his body worn and in-car cameras. Duty and the woman exchanged phone numbers and Duty reached out to her, including in April 2024 a few days before his arrest. On March 22, 2024, video footage shows Duty speaking with the second woman near the Sunoco station at Sullivant and Clarendon avenues. The woman confirmed that Duty had money with him and asked if he wanted to go to their “normal spot.” Duty drove away in his police vehicle, relocated to a different alley, and met up with the woman. Duty removed his body worn camera and blocked it from recording video. Amazon purchases nearly 600 acres in Fayette County for new data center The camera, however, still recorded audio from the incident. The audio recording reveals Duty asking the woman several times to have sex. She declines but performs oral sex on Duty. The two discuss meeting up later for sex and Duty is reported to have paid the woman $20.  Duty was placed on leave March 24 and indicted by a federal grand jury in April. He resigned on May 3 and pleaded not guilty in federal court. A sentencing recommendation of 18 to 48 months was included in the agreement. Duty was hired by the Columbus Division of Police on Jan. 4, 2019.