Will County man gets 10 years for trying share girls for sex
Posted:
Updated:
A judge sentenced a southwest suburban man who sought "fathers willing to share their daughters" on Craigslist to 10 years in prison Tuesday, Sun-Times Media is reporting.
Brandon J. Bergthold, 25, pleaded guilty to indecent solicitation of a child before Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak handed down the sentence. Prosecutors dropped another indecent solicitation charge he faced and two more counts of traveling to meet a minor in exchange for the plea.
Assistant State's Attorney Dan Walsh said Bergthold will also avoid additional criminal charges based on an investigation that ended Jan. 26 after Bergthold pushed aggressively to meet at a motel in unincorporated New Lenox with a man he thought would offer up his 6-year-old daughter for sex.
That girl never existed, and the man who agreed to meet with Bergthold turned out to be an undercover officer working for the Cook County Sheriff's Child Exploitation Unit.
Bergthold told police he's addicted to child porn, prosecutors said at the time, and he thanked police for arresting him at the motel. Police promised to search his computer for child pornography, but he was never charged with its possession.
Walsh said Bergthold must serve half of his 10-year sentence. He'll also get credit for 146 days already spent in jail. He'll also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Cook County police said they discovered Bergthold's Craigslist postings Nov. 30, and an officer answered his query pretending to be the father of a 6-year-old girl.
Police said the two-month investigation came to a head in January when Bergthold suddenly pushed for a meeting with the father and daughter. Will County Sheriff Paul Kaupas said Bergthold's demeanor changed, and officers worried he would seek out an unsuspecting victim.
They arranged for Bergthold to meet them and said he also hoped to have sex with the non-existent 11-year-old female cousin of the undercover officer
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:40 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:40:45 GMT
Things are going to be very busy at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport this weekend. Many travelers will also hit the roads for Memorial Day, and they'll pay the price at the pump.
Things are going to be very busy at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport this weekend. Many travelers will also hit the roads for Memorial Day, and they'll pay the price at the pump.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:32 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:32:17 GMT
A couple accused of murdering a 1-month-old boy and allegedly dumping the body in the Des Plaines River pleaded not guilty to the crime during a Thursday court hearing in Maywood.
A couple accused of murdering a 1-month-old boy and allegedly dumping the body in the Des Plaines River pleaded not guilty to the crime during a Thursday court hearing in Maywood.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:06 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:06:33 GMT
As the country looks at the relief efforts in Oklahoma, Illinois is training for the same kind of disaster. The Illinois National Guard prepares every year for disaster events.
As the country looks at the relief efforts in Oklahoma, Illinois is training for the same kind of disaster. The Illinois National Guard prepares every year for disaster events.
