Staff Report

Mark Christopher Berg

ROCHESTER — A Rochester man was recently arrested after allegedly attempting to solicit sex from an individual he believed was a child.

Mark Christopher Berg, 56, 1010 Jefferson St., Rochester, is charged with two counts of child solicitation, both level 5 felonies.

On Aug. 5, a Rochester Police detective received information from a man pretending to be a girl under the age of 18. The man said he texted Berg, who was attempting to solicit sex from the “child.”

According to court documents, the man said Berg sent inappropriate pictures of himself. Screenshots of messages between Berg and the man were sent to the detective. As the conversation progressed, with the man stating he was a 15-year-old girl, Berg responded with texts stating “… I can’t talk to you” and “That will get me 20 years.”

However, Berg continued talking with what he believed was a 15-year-old girl, with the conversations becoming sexual in nature. At one point, Berg attempted to get the “child” to come over to his house and offered to provide marijuana and alcohol.

The man said he pretended to be a child after receiving information about Berg sending “inappropriate and creepy” messages toward a young female co-worker. He said Berg was the one who turned the conversation sexual in nature.

Berg was booked in the Fulton County Jail on Aug. 8.