Middle School Principal Brought Condoms, McDonald’s Grimace Shake and Nuggets to Meeting Arranged on Snapchat With Minor: Cops

A principal at a middle school in New York has been arrested after he allegedly tried to meet up with a 16-year-old student for sex in a remote area, according to authorities.

Daniel Erickson, 55, allegedly started to communicate on Snapchat with a 16-year-old student and allegedly made “statements and eventually overt actions to indicate he was going to engage in sexual conduct with the minor,” according to the Broome County Sheriff’s Office.

Police said Erickson initially posed as a “younger adult,” but then used his “position as the Johnson City Middle School principal and school district database information to convince the 16-year-old who he really was.”

The teen and Erickson had allegedly been talking for about a week before they scheduled a meet-up on July 7, officials said.

Erickson is accused of making multiple attempts to meet with the girl, including by going to her home. However, the teenager did not leave her house to meet him, authorities said.

On July 5, deputies learned about Erickson’s alleged intentions to meet up with the teen, and they said there was “no further risk of harm to the juvenile female” after that point.

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In a news briefing, Sheriff Frederick Akshar said detectives went to where Erickson and the teen were supposed to meet and Erickson arrived and reportedly brought condoms, a McDonald’s “Grimace” shake and chicken nuggets.

Erickson was arrested and charged with luring a child and attempted rape, officials said. He is being held without bail.

In a statement, Johnson City School District Superintendent Eric Race said the “heinous” allegation “disturbs” him. Race added that Erickson has been with the district for “23 or 24 years” and has worked as an administrator for 20 years.