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Sheriff: Alleged courthouse killer planned jailbreakPlan outlined in letters to fellow inmate, officials say
 Brian Nichols, left, is shown at an earlier court hearing. RELATED
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Jail officials in Atlanta said Wednesday they have intercepted letters revealing an escape plot between courthouse shooting suspect Brian Nichols and another "high profile" inmate. Nichols is awaiting trial on charges he killed a judge, court reporter and sheriff's deputy as he escaped from Atlanta's main courthouse. He also is charged with killing a federal agent while on the run. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty. The letters were found last week during a routine security check, or "shakedown," of Nichols' cell and an adjacent cell, according to Fulton County jail spokeswoman Sgt. Nikita Hightower. The second inmate was not publicly identified, but Hightower said he has a "high profile" and is incarcerated for murder. A criminal investigation is under way, and the letters have been sent to the district attorney's office and the sheriff department's internal affairs office. Hightower said internal affairs is involved any time there is wrongdoing by deputies or inmates. She would not comment on specific contents of the letters. However, she said there was some talk of possibly "overtaking a deputy." No particular time or date was discussed, Hightower said. Tight security has surrounded Nichols since he allegedly overpowered a sheriff's deputy as she brought him into a courtroom for a rape trial. Killed during the March 11 escape were Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes, court reporter Julie Ann Brandau, sheriff's Deputy Hoyt Teasley and later, federal customs agent David Wilhelm. Nichols has pleaded not guilty to 54 counts of murder, kidnapping, robbery and escape. SWAT team members have been assigned to guard Nichols since the notes were discovered last week in both inmates' cells, officials said. It is not clear how Nichols was able to exchange notes with the other inmate. While the cells share a wall, they are designed to prevent communication between inmates. CNN's Deanna Proeller contributed to this report 
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