A Connecticut woman has admitted to using caffeinated drinks to facilitate the sexual assault of an 11-year-old boy after coercing him through social media platforms.
Alyson Cranick, aged 44, entered a guilty plea to federal charges of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity on Tuesday, according to officials from the US Attorney's Office.
Systematic Grooming and Abuse
Court documents reveal that during the summer and autumn of 2022, Cranick employed text messages, Snapchat and Discord to manipulate the young victim into participating in sexually explicit conduct with her.
Prosecutors stated she convinced the boy to leave his home secretly at night and provided him with caffeinated beverages to ensure he remained awake while she sexually assaulted him.
The abuse occurred on at least 14 separate occasions, with Cranick driving the child to multiple locations including Horace Porter School, which serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
According to legal documents obtained by the Hartford Courant, Cranick allegedly offered to purchase Apple AirPods and a plastic pellet-firing gun for the victim as part of her grooming process.
Repeat Offender Despite Bail Conditions
State prosecutors initially brought charges against Cranick in 2023 after the boy informed police they had engaged in sexual intercourse within her vehicle following his nocturnal escapes from home.
Although released on bond, Cranick was arrested again for violating her release conditions by allegedly contacting a 13-year-old girl through Snapchat, as reported by CT Insider.
Federal authorities assumed control of the case in 2024 when investigators discovered Cranick had exchanged more than 4,700 messages with the boy via Discord between July and October 2022.
The victim told authorities they switched communication platforms to Discord after learning a family member intended to examine the messages on his mobile phone.
School Employee Background and Consequences
School administration records indicate Cranick worked as a paraprofessional within the Columbia school district and most recently served as an administrative assistant at E.O. Smith High School in Mansfield.
The school terminated her employment following completion of the state investigation into the allegations.
Interim Superintendent Barbara Wilson released a statement through the Columbia School District expressing profound regret about the situation.
'As educators, we are entrusted to protect and educate all of our students,' Wilson stated. 'Maintaining appropriate faculty-student relationships and providing for the safety and well-being of our students at all times are critical.'
Cranick, a married mother of two who frequently shared photographs of her children on social media, now faces sentencing on February 12. She could receive a life prison term with a mandatory minimum of ten years incarceration.
State-level charges remain pending with her next hearing scheduled for December 19.
