*Warning: Graphic content*
A man trusted as a family friend has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing a young girl over the course of three years.
Shon Erickson, who was 20 to 23 years old during the period of abuse, was found guilty of repeatedly assaulting the girl from July 2012 to December 2015. At the time, the child was just 4 to 7 years old.
Court records reveal that Erickson was a close friend of the girl’s family and was often trusted to care for her. While alone with her, he sexually abused her repeatedly, including acts of sodomy.
The young girl was often left terrified, begging to leave, or crying during the assaults. Prosecutors stated that Erickson manipulated her by threatening her to stay silent, yelling if she resisted, or bribing her with treats like ice cream.
The abuse came to light years later, in September 2022, when the now-teenage girl was caught with a vape at school. During a conversation with a school resource officer about the potential consequences of juvenile detention and communal showers, she became deeply distressed and finally revealed the years of abuse to her parents.
Her family immediately reported the crimes to law enforcement. Erickson was arrested soon after and charged with multiple counts of forcible sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, and indecent liberties with a child.
In addition to his 25-year sentence, he will face 100 years of supervised good behavior, probation, mandatory sex offender registration, and required treatment. He is also barred from any contact with the victim or her family.
