MASON CITY – A former Clear Lake man was sentenced to seven days in jail after a plea agreement on a possession of child pornography charge after a search warrant was executed on his property by Clear Lake Police Department on January 24th, 2011.
Court records show 57-year-old Bradley Scott Berding initially pled not guilty to one aggravated misdemeanor count of purchase or possession of medium depicting child exploitation (possession of child pornography). At a pre-trial conference on February 24th a negotiated voluntary plea agreement was reached between the prosecution and Berding. Berding then entered a written plea of guilt to the accusation with sentencing set for March 23rd.
During sentencing in Cerro Gordo County District Court on Friday, March 23rd, presiding District Court Judge Colleen D. Weiland sentenced Berding to a suspended one year prison sentence. Judge Weiland ordered Berding to serve 7 days in the Cerro Gordo County Jail. Berding must repay the public defender’s office and court costs totaling $2138, but no criminal fine shows in the records.
Iowa law also requires Bradley Berding to register as a sex offender for 10 years. The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Inmate Population Report shows Berding is currently in the monitored work release section of the jail scheduled to be released after serving his 7 day sentence on March 30th.
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
