Former Cloud County Corrections Officer Arrested on Multiple Child Sex Crime Charges
Concordia, Kansas – June 24, 2025 — A former corrections officer with the Cloud County Sheriff’s Office is at the center of a disturbing criminal case after being arrested for multiple sex crimes involving children. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) has confirmed that 36-year-old Brice Berk was taken into custody on the afternoon of June 23, following an extensive investigation that has sent shockwaves through the local community and law enforcement agencies.
According to the KBI, Berk turned himself in to authorities at the Republic County Sheriff’s Office around 4:35 p.m. on Monday. Shortly thereafter, he was formally arrested and booked into the Republic County Jail. He faces 12 felony counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, with the charges alleging that he was involved in both the possession and distribution of child pornography—serious offenses that carry the potential for significant prison time if he is convicted.
The investigation into Berk began earlier this year and escalated in March 2025, when authorities executed a search warrant at his residence. Following the raid, Berk’s employment as a corrections officer was terminated. Law enforcement has not publicly detailed the contents or findings of the search warrant, but sources familiar with the case have indicated that digital evidence recovered from the scene played a pivotal role in securing charges.
Berk had worked as a corrections officer for Cloud County for several years. His role involved supervising inmates, maintaining order within the correctional facility, and upholding the law—making the nature of these charges particularly alarming and disheartening for the law enforcement community.
“The charges brought against Mr. Berk are deeply troubling,” said a spokesperson for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. “While we must allow the legal process to unfold, we remain committed to thoroughly investigating all allegations of child exploitation and ensuring that individuals who violate the trust placed in them—particularly those in positions of public responsibility—are held accountable.”
Following his arrest, Berk was processed at the Republic County Jail and held on a $20,000 bond. It remains unclear whether he has secured legal representation or if he plans to post bond in the coming days.
This case is part of a broader effort by Kansas authorities to combat crimes involving child exploitation. In recent years, the KBI has ramped up digital forensics capabilities and worked closely with national and regional task forces to track down individuals who engage in the creation, possession, and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
As the investigation continues, the KBI has asked anyone with information related to the case to come forward. The agency has also reiterated the importance of vigilance and community involvement in protecting vulnerable populations.
The arrest of Brice Berk marks a painful and unsettling chapter for the Cloud County Sheriff’s Office, which is now facing questions about internal oversight and the process by which background checks and personnel evaluations are conducted. Sheriff’s officials have stated that they are cooperating fully with investigators and will be conducting a thorough internal review.
Berk is expected to make his first court appearance later this week. If convicted on all 12 counts, he could face decades in prison and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
The community response has been a mix of outrage and sorrow, with many residents expressing deep concern over the trust that was broken by someone who once wore a badge. As one local resident commented, “It’s horrifying to think that someone tasked with upholding the law could be capable of something so vile. We just want justice for the children affected.”
More details are expected to emerge as the case proceeds through the judicial system.