Bend man accused of distributing child sex abuse material from child care facility pleads not guilty; Oct. 1 trial date set

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Bend man who was living at a licensed day care facility at the time of his arrest in late May pleaded not guilty Monday to 20 first- and second-degree felony counts of encouraging child sexual abuse and one misdemeanor count of encouraging the sexual assault of an animal.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Alycia Herriott set an Oct. 1 trial date for Jack Bergeron Jr., a jury trial expected to take four days, court records showed. A trial readiness hearing is set for Sept. 24 and another hearing on Sept. 30.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said after Bergeron’s arrest in late May that it was made aware in March of an Internet Protocol address that was distributing child sexual abuse material. The home was raided immediately after authorities learned the home where the crimes were occurring also operated a state-licensed child care facility.

Deschutes County Jail records show Bergeron remains held at the facility.

At the time of his arrest, authorities said there was no evidence to indicate the day care facility’s children were victims of the crimes.