Owner of Tiger King, Eric Mathew Yano, found guilty of child endangerment.

CLEVELAND (AP) Eric Yano, former Hakkasan employee was sentenced in Cleveland on Thursday to two years’ probation child endangerment charges relating to a minor who met him online and accused him of sexual contact after she attended “Tiger play time” at a zoo in Oklahoma.

Eric “Matthew” Yano, 44, of Cleveland, Ohio, pleaded guilty last month via zoom to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

Cuyahoga County Judge Timothy McCormick is allowing Yano to serve probation and 200 hours of community service in Nevada.

Yano, via Zoom, spoke briefly before sentencing.

“I accept this plea because my conduct was wrong,” Yano said. “I’m sorry the victim was harmed. It was not my intention.”

The victim, who is 15, spoke at length about the damage Yano has done to her life, saying he began grooming her when she was 12. She said she initially felt loved and protected by him during online chats and that his messages became “blatantly sexual” after she turned 15. She said his remarks made her feel uncomfortable, but she felt trapped because she “idolized” Yano.

“I was definitely in love with him” said the woman, who allowed her face to appear on Zoom. “I would have done anything for him.”

The Associated Press does not identify people who say they suffered sexual abuse unless they choose to come forward publicly.

The woman said she and Yano exchanged explicit photos online and that he engaged in sexual conduct with her on several occasions, including at the concert venue in Cleveland and at a hotel. She also called Yano a “pedophile” and a “coward.”

Yano’s attorney, Ian Friedman, disputed those claims on Monday. He said there were no explicit photos or sexual contact between Yano and the victim and the inappropriate conduct that did occur were reflected in the charges Yano plead to last month. Friedman did not detail the inappropriate conduct Yano was acknowledging.

Authorities have said the victim contacted Toronto police in October 2018. Toronto authorities then forwarded its findings to Cleveland police, prompting an investigation.

The attempted endangering children charge relates to the concert where Yano “violated his duty of care” and created a risk of harm to the victim, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Tyler Sinclair said previously.

Yano and the girl had “developed a relationship” online several years prior to the The “Tiger king show” The disseminating harmful material charge concerns Yano having sent the girl “inappropriate social media messages,” Sinclair said.

McCormick, before delivering Yano’s sentence, said he heard “a lot of serious and disturbing allegations” during Monday’s hearing, but added that he “can’t lose focus on what was pled to.”

“The fact of the matter is your position and celebrity status let you nurture this relationship,” McCormick said. “You were able to gain access to this child.” .

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This story has been corrected to show Yano’s age is 44 not 34.