Tehama County Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Criminal Sexual Activity with a Minor

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Thomas Sherman Endicott, 74, formerly of Corning, California, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Morrison C. England, Jr. to eight years’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. The defendant pleaded guilty on December 21, 2011 to transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

The defendant was initially investigated by the Coos County (OR) Sheriff’s Department and the Tehama County Sheriff’s Department. Later the Federal Bureau of Investigation continued the investigation, which led to the indictment in this case on March 26, 2009.

Pursuant to his plea agreement, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. As part of the plea agreement, the defendant agreed to accept a longer prison sentence—an upward variance from the recommended sentence—based upon the seriousness of the offense and the need to provide just punishment.

According to court documents, in the fall of 1996, the defendant and a 13-year-old child traveled from the defendant’s home in Tehama County to New York City, New York. At the time, the minor child was living with the defendant. Upon arriving in New York, the defendant and the minor child embarked on an eight-day cruise paid for by the defendant. During the course of the cruise, the defendant molested the minor child on numerous occasions.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Stegman and Jill Thomas and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee prosecuted the case for the United States.