Colfax man sentenced to 1 year probation, 30 days in jail for “inappropriate advances”

By LeAnn R. Ralph

COLFAX —  A 37-year-old Colfax man has been sentenced to one year of probation and 30 days in jail for making “inappropriate sexual advances” to a young lady who was 17 years old at the time.

Eric B. Larson, along with his attorney, Charles Huff, appeared before Judge Rod Smeltzer November 10 for a plea and sentencing hearing.

Larson was charged with one misdemeanor count of exposing genitals/pubic area/intimate parts to a child.

Larson pleaded no contest, and Judge Smeltzer found him guilty, withheld sentence and placed Larson on one year of probation with 30 days of jail time as a condition of probation.

According to the criminal complaint, on March 31, 2016, a therapist with Northwest Directions Counseling faxed a report to the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department for a follow up.

The report stated Larson had asked the victim to expose intimate parts of her body, and “I will give you a few extra bucks.”

The victim did not comply, and Larson did not make any more advances, according to the complaint.

The complaint states, “there is reported concern that (the victim) may be in danger of future inappropriate advances.”

The sergeant investigating the report responded to Colfax High School and interviewed the victim.

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Department conducted a check on Larson and contacted his previous probation agent who told the deputy Larson is a lifetime registered sex offender, according to the complaint.

The sergeant called Larson, who denied making the sexual advance. The sergeant indicated, however, that Larson was “not convincing,” according to the complaint.

Larson was convicted in 2001 of one felony count of the second degree sexual assault of a child.

At the time of the earlier case, Larson was 21 years old, and Judge Smeltzer withheld sentence, placed him on eight years of probation, and as a condition of probation, sentenced him to one year in jail.

Judge Smeltzer also ordered Larson to obtain a high school equivalency diploma, participate in sex offender counseling, have no contact with children under the age of 18 without supervision, to have no contact with the victim or the family, to pay restitution, to issue an apology to the victim and the family, and to register as a sex offender.

One felony count of the first degree sexual assault of a child in the previous case was dismissed on a prosecutor’s motion. A misdemeanor count of exposing genitals to a child also was dismissed.

During the November 10 court hearing, Judge Smeltzer ordered Larson to report to the Dunn County jail by January 5, 2018, at 5 p.m. Huber privileges will be allowed after 48 hours.

Bail was set in the case with a $100 signature bond on July 25.

Judge Smeltzer also ordered Larson to pay $243 in court costs and to pay a $200 DNA surcharge.