Eriksen
KINGSTON – An Ulster County Court jury convicted a Kingston man on several charges of sexual abuse against three children.
Kaj-Erik Eriksen, 60, also known as Richard Lewis, faces 25 years to life in prison when sentenced.
On Friday, Eriksen was found guilty of predatory sexual assault of a child, course of sexual conduct against a child, and criminal sexual act.
At the trial, three victims, now adults, testified to sexual abuse, which occurred at Eriksen’s residence and prior residence, both in the City of Kingston, over the course of years.
One victim was an elementary school student at Meagher Elementary School when the child was eight, and continued for a year or more. Erikson also bought the victims expensive gifts including snowboards, video game systems, dirt bikes and a quad all-terrain vehicle. He also took them and their friends on snowboarding trips, camping trips, swimming and to Disney World.
Erikson had previously been convicted of endangering the welfare of a child in Kingston City Court in 2007. He also was previously convicted in the state of Washington under the name of Richard Lewis for indecent liberties with a minor in the early 1980s.
“This man preyed upon the innocence and vulnerability of children,” said Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright. “He insidiously manipulated them and their families in order to gain access to these children and have opportunities to engage in this abhorrent conduct.”
