New York middle school principal charged with attempted rape after luring teen on SnapChat, bringing her Grimace milkshake, chicken nuggets

A New York middle school principal has been charged with attempted rape after posing as a younger male on Snapchat to with the intent of seeking a minor to solicit for sex.

Daniel Erickson, 55, of Johnson City Middle School, was arrested by the Broome County Sheriff's Office on Friday and has been charged with luring a child and third-degree attempted rape, Fox News reports.



Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar said at a Monday press brief that Erickson "brought with him a Grimace shake from McDonald's, chicken nuggets and a box of condoms" when he planned to meet the minor but was arrested by sheriff's deputies instead.

According to authorities, Erickson had been inappropriately communicating with a 16-year-old high school girl on Snapchat for at least a week before his arrest. He posed as a younger adult male and made suggestive comments that signaled he wanted to engage in sexual conduct with the minor, authorities said.

While Erickson initially posed as a younger adult, he came forward to the teen that he was a middle school prinicpal and proved his identity by using the "school district database information to convince the 16-year-old girl who he really was," according to the sheriff's office.

According to authorities, Erickson attempted to meet up with the girl before his arrest, which included allegedly showing up to the minor's home, but the minor did not go outside.

The Broome County Sheriff's Office was tipped off on July 5 and arrested Erickson when he agreed to meet with the girl in a remote location with the intention of engaging in sexual relations on July 7, the sheriff's office said.
 

"As a father, I know this is a nightmare scenario for any parent," Sheriff Fred Akshar said of the arrest Monday. "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 student charged in our schools’ care is beyond disgusting."

Erickson is being held without bail and has been placed on administrative leave.

Johnson City Central School District Superintendent Eric Race said of Erickson's arrest, "The district is taking all necessary and appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of our students, staff and the public."

"We understand the extreme, unfortunate and negative impacts Mr. Erickson's alleged actions are causing our school district, our students, our parents, our community," he added.

According to the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, Erickson has served as the school principal for the last 10 years and has been with the school district for 20 years.