Johnson City, N.Y. — A middle school principal in Broome County used the social media app Snapchat to try to get a 16-year-old girl to engage in sex, deputies said.
Johnson City Middle School Principal Daniel Erickson, 55, of Greene, was charged with luring a child and third-degree attempted rape, according to a news release Monday from the Broome County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said Erickson was arrested Friday following an investigation into suspicious behavior involving a minor who attends Johnson City High School.
Deputies said Erickson was communicating via Snapchat with the student. Erickson also made statements indicating he wanted to engage in sexual activity with the girl, they said.
Erickson initially posed as a young adult, deputies said. He then used his position as the principal to access the school district database to convince the girl of his true identity.
Erickson started communicating with the girl a week before his arrest, deputies said.
The principal attempted to meet with the girl multiple times, including going to her home, deputies said. The girl, however, did not come out to meet him when he showed up at her house, they said.
Deputies said they were made aware of the situation on Wednesday. Two days later, Erickson agreed to meet with the student in a remote location with the intentions of engaging in sexual relations, deputies said. Detectives were at the location when Erickson arrived and arrested him, they said.
“As a father, I know this is a nightmare scenario for any parent,” Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar said. “We entrust our schools with the care and safety of our children, and to have an individual violate that trust, abuse their power and prey on a very student charged in our schools’ care is beyond disgusting.”
Erickson was taken to Central Arraignment at the Broome County Correctional Facility. He is currently being held without bail.
Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a…
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