Federal wildlife official sentenced for sexual assault

BEND, Ore. – A federal program administrator overseeing endangered species policy for Washington state was sentenced to a month in jail for sexually assaulting a female co-worker while attending a conference in Oregon.

The Bulletin reports Eric Rickerson was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to third-degree sex assault, harassment, coercion, intimidation and private indecency.

In July of 2018 Rickerson, 53, attended a conference in Sunriver, Oregon, with the victim and other members of the agency. Authorities say he got drunk at a party and followed the victim to the condo where they were staying. Prosecutors say he exposed himself and touched her inappropriately.

Rickerson is the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Service’s state supervisor for Washington, overseeing more than 100 employees.

His attorney blamed his client’s alcoholism.