JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — The principal at a village middle school on the outskirts of Binghamton was arrested last week for attempting to lure a 16-year-old girl for sex, the Broome County Sheriff’s Department announced Monday.
Daniel Erickson, the 55-year-old principal of Johnson City Middle School, solicited sex from a child attending Johnson City High School over Snapchat, according to authorities.
Police arrested Erickson on Friday at what he thought would be a meeting with the victim. The New York Post reported he had condoms, chicken nuggets and a McDonald’s Grimace-themed milkshake with him.
Erickson had been communicating with the child over Snapchat for at least a week before his arrest, according to officials.
He posed as a younger adult, using the school district database to convince the alleged victim of his false identity.
The principal allegedly made multiple attempts to meet with the teenager, but in each instance the victim did not show up.
Police were alerted to his alleged behavior on July 5 — two days before his arrest.
“As a father, I know this is a nightmare scenario for any parent,” said Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar. “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.”
Police charged Erickson with luring a child and attempted rape — a felony and misdemeanor respectively.
He is being held at Broome County Correctional Facility ahead of his trial.
Erickson has since been removed from the list of administrators on the Johnson City Middle School website.
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