Hilton Head Island Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison for Child Pornography Offenses

Contact Person: Dean H. Secor (843) 727-4381

Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that David Christman Berg, Jr., age 55, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina was sentenced on Tuesday in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina for Possession of Child Pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B).  Senior U.S. District Judge Margaret B. Seymour sentenced Berg to 108 months in federal prison. Judge Seymour also ordered Berg to serve a lifetime term of supervised release after he is released from prison.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing last June established that in April 2012 an undercover FBI agent was browsing a website known to be used by child pornographers. The agent determined that Berg had posted child pornography images on the website. A search warrant was executed at Berg’s residence in Hilton Head Island on May 14, 2012.  Agents seized computers and thumb drives from Berg that contained approximately 14,000 child pornography images and 41 child pornography videos, including child pornography involving prepubescent minors and sadistic and masochistic conduct. Berg was interviewed and admitted that he possessed child pornography.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Assistant United States Attorney Dean H. Secor of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Justice Department in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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