Frankfort Sex Offender Charged With Possessing Child Pornography: Feds

FRANKFORT, IL — A registered sex offender who lives in Frankfort was charged in federal court Thursday with possession and transportation of child pornography, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office Northern District of Illinois.

Brandon J. Bergthold, 35, of Frankfort, faces 15-40 years in federal prison on the charges due to a prior qualifying conviction involving a minor, for which Bergthold had to register as a sex offender, according to the release.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said that between July and September, Bergthold communicated with and sent images of child pornography to an undercover law enforcement officer on the Kik online messaging platform. Bergthold used the screenname "freakybrando86" in those communications, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Federal agents obtained search warrants May 4 on Bergthold's phone and residence, according to an affidavit in the case. On May 5, officers executed those warrants. Bergthold told officers at that time that he "preferred images of minors between 8 and 16 years of age, but has viewed images of younger individuals," according to the affidavit.

Bergthold was convicted in 2012 of indecent solicitation of a child and sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to the Illinois State Police. The victim in that case was 6 years old at the time. Bergthold was 25.

Bergthold is currently being held in federal custody without bond. Arraignment in U.S. District Court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.

If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling (800) 843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.