The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested a former Cloud County Sheriff’s Office corrections officer for child sex crimes on Monday this week.
According to a press release, KBI agents arrested 36-year-old Concordia resident Brice Berk at about 4:35 p.m. on Monday, June 23 at the Republic County Sheriff’s Office after he turned himself in to the authorities.
The release states that agents arrested Berk for 12 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, which alleges that Berk possessed and distributed child sexual abuse images.
KBI agents began investigating Berk after they received a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This led to a search warrant at Berk’s residence in March this year, when his time at the Cloud County Sheriff’s Office ended.
The release stated that during that search, agents found and seized evidence, and Cloud County Sheriff’s Office staff remained fully cooperative.
In the KBI release, staff stated that Berk was booked into the Republic County Jail on a $20,000 bond. It also stated, “All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
KBI officials urge anyone with further information related to this investigation to contact the KBI at 1-800-572-7463. Online tips can also be submitted at www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.
The investigation is ongoing, and KBI officials said they expect the Cloud County Attorney's Office to prosecute this case.
