Tuesday, February 27, 2001

By Greg Tyler
Sasebo bureau chief

SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — A sailor from the USS Essex was sentenced to 60 days’ ship restriction and 90 days’ hard labor without confinement after pleading guilty to assault on a minor child.

Petter Officer 3rd Class Eric J. Fredrickson also was reduced in rank to E-3 by Cmdr. Keith Allred, a military judge, during a special court-martial Monday.

Fredrickson had admitted placing the left hand of a 3-year-old boy in a sink full of hot water and bleach on July 17.

At the time, Fredrickson was living in the home of another Sasebo sailor. Fredrickson was taking care of the boy while the the boy’s parents were away from home.

Fredrickson said he filled a sink with hot water and bleach in order to clean his white Navy uniform, and wanted to teach the boy not to stick his hands in hot water.

"I knew it was hot, but not scalding. I had my own hands in it," Fredrickson testified. "I knew it would hurt him and cause some discomfort, but I did not know it would hurt him this bad."

He said he left the boy’s hand in the water for "five or 10 seconds."

The boy’s father testified that his son underwent treatment for third-degree burns on his fingertips, and second-degree burns on top of his hand and palm.

At the court-martial, the boy’s mother testified that they did not believe Fredrickson meant to burn their son’s hand.

"I don’t believe he has the heart to hurt anybody, especially [our son]. He had really bonded with him," the boy’s mother said. "It was mainly a lesson gone wrong."

Prior to the court-martial, Fredrickson agreed to pay $9,000 to the family to cover the medical and travel expenses they incurred. He has already paid $5,000.

"This is the worst thing I’ve done in my life. I deeply regret what I did ... I would do anything to get it back," Fredrickson told the court.

Back to February's stories
Page Two news roundup
Stories from January, 2001
Stories from December, 2000
Stories from November, 2000
Stories from October, 2000
Stories from August and September, 2000
Stories from June and July, 2000
Home