Retired Sawyer County Priest Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Sex Assault

The sentence is 30 years in prison for a former Sawyer County priest convicted of sexually assaulting a child.  Thomas Ericksen was a priest in the Merrill area in the 1970s and 80s.  The charges first came to light after a Merrill school teacher made accusations several years ago.  Ericksen later admitted to “fondling” boys at St. Peters in the Village of Winter and at two other locations and was arrested last year.  Ericksen will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and is prohibited from owning firearms.