KINGSTON – The Ulster
County Court conviction of a man on child sexual abuse charges has been
affirmed by an appeals court.
Kaj-Erik Eriksen of Kingston, also known as Richard Lewis, was convicted
in a jury trial in May 2015 on charges of predatory sexual assault against
a child, course of sexual conduct against a child, two counts of criminal
sexual act, and criminal sexual act, all as felonies.
Eriksen’s convictions stem from conduct between 2004 and 2012 and
involved three boys, ages 13 through 17. Over an eight-year period, he
engaged in sexual abuse against the three victims after befriending the
victims and their families.
Each of the victims, who were at the time of the trial, 18, 19 and 21,
testified against him about the sexual abuse to which they had been subjected.
Following the trial, County Court Judge Donald Williams sentenced Erikson
to 68 years to life in prison.
On appeal, Erikson claimed the trial court improperly denied his pre-Miranda
and post-Miranda statements to police. The Appellate Division of State
Supreme Court concluded that he was not in custody prior to receiving
the Miranda warnings and that the court’s ruling was in all respects,
correct.
The appellate court also determined the sentence imposed in county court
was not unduly harsh or excessive given the “abhorrent and particularly
egregious nature of the offenses” and that his adult life had been
marked by repeated sexual abuse of young boys. The court also noted his
prior convictions from the State of Washington under a different name
did not deter him from engaging in “this despicable behavior.”
