A 54-year-old St. Louis man was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in federal prison sexually exploiting a 14-year-old Owensboro girl.
Christopher R. Bertolett pleaded guilty to four federal charges related to an Owensboro Police Department investigation. The United States Secret Service and United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky assisted in the investigation. The agencies made a joint announcement Friday about the sentencing.
Bertolett, 54, previously pleaded guilty to online enticement of a minor, transfer of obscene material to a minor, production of child pornography, and interstate travel to engage in illegal sexual activity.
According to the announcement, “In the change of plea hearing, Bertolett admitted that in January 2021, he met a 14-year-old girl through an online software application. The girl lived in Owensboro, Kentucky and Bertolett lived in St. Louis, Missouri. The two communicated online from January 2021 until May 2021. Bertolett and the girl discussed a variety of topics while communicating online, including sexual activity. On or about February 4, 2021, Bertolett sent the 14-year-old girl pictures of his genitalia. On or about May 9, 2021, Bertolett rented a car and drove from Saint Louis to Owensboro where he met the girl, drove her to an Owensboro motel, and sexually exploited her.”
Law enforcement officials arrested Bertolett on May 10, 2021.
In addition to the 30-year prison sentence, Bertolett was ordered to pay the victim $10,000 in restitution. He was also ordered to serve a life term of supervised release after his release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
