In November 2018, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit received information that a sex offender in Lake County, Richard Allen Berry, 63, of Lucerne was possibly in possession of child pornography.
Detectives obtained search warrants for Berry’s residence as well as records related to his internet activity. During the next several months detectives reviewed evidence obtained from the search warrants. Several images of child pornography were located on Berry’s electronic devices. Evidence was also discovered that showed Berry had been live video chatting with subjects in the Philippines who were commercially sexually exploiting children. Berry was exchanging money for photographs and videos containing child pornography with the subjects in the Philippines.
On May 2, 2019, Berry was arrested pursuant to an arrest warrant that had been issued by the Lake County Superior Court related to this investigation. Berry was booked at the Lake County Jail on charges of Possession of Child Pornography with a prior conviction for a registrable sex offense.
Detectives believed they were able to identify a residence in the Philippines related to one of the children who were being sexually exploited. Detectives requested assistance from agents with the Homeland Security in coordinating with officials from the Philippines National Police. Detectives requested attempts be made to contact, identify, and check the welfare of the child that was possibly being sexually exploited.
On March 12, 2020, the Major Crimes Unit received information that an operation had been conducted in the Philippines on March 9th and 10th that resulted in the rescue of six victims related to online sexual exploitation. Two of the victims rescued were a 12 year old girl and 6 year old boy who were related to the investigation of Berry in Lake County.
On June 8, 2020, Berry was sentenced to four years in state prison for the possession of child pornography. Additionally Berry may be facing federal charges for the production of child pornography related to the children in the Philippines.
Late last year the Lake County Sheriff’s Office entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with several local, county, and city organizations recognizing the need for a collaborative approach to identifying, intervening, and bringing children to safety that are being commercially sexually exploited in Lake County. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work with local, state, federal, and international agencies to stop these horrific crimes.
—Submitted by Lieutenant Corey Paulich, Public Information Officer
June 9, 2020
