NEWARK, NY — A 20-year-old man has been arrested following an investigation into the online exploitation of a minor.
Brayden Bergfjord, of Ontario, was taken into custody by the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in SP Lyons.
The investigation began on Sept. 24 after the Village of Newark Police Department received information regarding inappropriate online communications between an adult male and a 12-year-old female from Ottawa, Canada.
The case was subsequently referred to the New York State Police BCI in SP Lyons for further investigation.
Investigators determined that Bergfjord met the victim through the online gaming platform Roblox.
During their communications, Bergfjord allegedly sent sexually explicit images and videos of himself to the victim and attempted to solicit explicit images from the child.
On Jan. 27, Bergfjord was taken into custody and charged with disseminating indecent material to a minor in the first degree, a D felony; criminal solicitation in the third degree, an E felony; and act in a manner injurious to a child less than 17, a misdemeanor.
During the investigation, Bergfjord’s cellular phone was seized and searched pursuant to a warrant.
Investigators subsequently located additional child sexual abuse material on the device.
On Jan. 29, Bergfjord was arrested on an additional charge of possessing obscene sexual performance by child less than 16, an E felony.
Bergfjord was processed by the New York State Police, issued an appearance ticket on the additional charges, and is scheduled to appear in the Village of Newark Court on March 18.
The New York State Police were assisted by the Ottawa Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, and the Newark Police Department.
