5/31/2024
Bend, OR. – Official Release: In March of 2024, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of an IP address that was actively distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material through Peer to Peer (P2P) networks in Deschutes County. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) out of Eugene, Oregon was able to connect directly to a computer that was actively distributing this material and shared this information with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit. ICAC detectives initiated an investigation and obtained a large amount of evidence over the next two months.
On May 30th, 2024, detectives determined that the IP address that was distributing this Child Sexual Abuse Material was operated by Jack Bergeron of Bend. Detectives also learned that the residence where Bergeron resides, and the distribution of this Child Sexual Abuse Material was occurring, also operated as a licensed childcare facility.
Due to the significantly increased risk of Bergeron’s access to children, detectives with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office ICAC unit, as well as detectives with the Street Crimes unit, Digital Forensics unit, Oregon State Police ICAC detectives, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and Redmond Police Department Digital Forensics unit served a search warrant at Bergeron’s residence immediately.
Several digital devices were seized from the residence. Bergeron was placed under arrest, transported to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Adult Jail, and lodged on the aforementioned charges.
At this time, detectives have no evidence to show that the children of the childcare facility were victims of the aforementioned charges. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office requests that if parents of children who attend the childcare facility have questions or concerns to contact Deschutes County Dispatch Non-Emergency at 541-693-6911 to be placed in contact with the ICAC unit. Further search warrants will be sought for the analysis of the seized digital devices, which may result in future charges being filed.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full-service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with six K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 193 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.
See how to report tips here: https://sheriff.deschutes.org/community/crime-prevention/reporting-a-crime-or-incident/
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I didn’t know we had children detectives in Band. 🙄
I didn’t know people could mess up spelling BEND.