Clarification: The information in this story was provided from records obtained through the Lansing court and the man accused of committing the crime lives in the town of Lansing. He is not, however, employed in the Lansing school district nor is he affiliated with the Lansing Fire Department.
LANSING, N.Y. — A Lansing man is accused of demonstrating sexually explicit acts and having inappropriate sexual conversation with an 11-year-old boy on multiple occasions, court documents show.
Ryan R. Harrington, 36, is charged with misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child. A jail official said Tuesday morning that he is not in custody at this time.
The documents also state that Harrington is a firefighter and teacher, though it is currently unclear where or if he is employed.
This is a developing story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
Court documents detailed the following narrative:
On several occasions during the 2015 summer, Harrington had inappropriate sexual contact or conversation with an 11-year-old boy that he knew.
The first incident is alleged to have happened in July while the man was giving the boy a ride home. During the ride, the two had graphic sexual conversations. Harrington then demonstrated how to masturbate — using hand gestures.
In mid-August, Harrington took the boy to a hiking trail where he showed the boy how to use a firefighter pager to masturbate by holding it against the front of one’s own pants. The man then encouraged the boy to try the technique with the pager, which the boy did.
Five days later, during a sleepover at Harrington’s house, the man allegedly “helped” the boy shower. The records state, “While helping the boy wash, he did flick the boy’s penis with his finger. During this same sleepover, the defendant showed the boy his vibrating back massager and showed him how this back massager could assist with masturbation.” The man then had the boy try out the method by convincing him to hold the vibrator over his (the boy’s) own clothes.
Throughout a 12-page statement from the boy’s mother, she details how a friendship with Harrington led to the man eventually taking a role in her son’s life. She then lists numerous times throughout a course of several months following the previously listed incidents when Harrington asked to have her son spend the night.
She also lists occasions when Harrington was physical with her son, touching his legs, thighs or buttocks in public or wrapping his arm around him.
The boy’s father also provided a statement, calling Harrington’s attention toward the 11-year-old “alarming” and said it seemed like the man was “obsessed” with the boy.
Featured photo by Brian Turner of Flickr.