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October 23, 2004
Sex offender jailed for visit
2-time convict took supervised photos at Keizer preschool
ALAN GUSTAFSON
Statesman Journal
October 23, 2004
A two-time sex offender has been jailed in the wake of his chaperoned photography sessions at a Keizer preschool.
Marcus Rodney Berg, 37, of Keizer was arrested Thursday by Marion County parole and probation deputies.
He is accused of violating terms of his probation by taking student photos Oct. 6-7 at Keizer Christian Church preschool.
Berg was chaperoned by his mother during the photography sessions. They are enrolled in a county program that trains sex offenders' family members and other supporters to escort offenders during public outings.
However, Berg visited the preschool without the approval of his probation officer, said Jeff Wood, leader of the county's sex-offender supervision team.
No allegations of child abuse have surfaced in connection with Berg's visits to the preschool, Wood said.
However, Berg will undergo a polygraph test to determine whether he has violated additional conditions of his probation, Wood said Friday.
Berg is scheduled to appear Monday morning in Marion County Circuit Court for a hearing about the alleged probation violation. A year in jail is the maximum penalty that he could receive.
Berg was convicted of sexual abuse in 1998 and 2002. One victim was a juvenile. He was sentenced to a five-year term of supervised probation after he pleaded guilty to the 2002 charge.
Marion County launched an investigation into Berg's visits to the preschool after Leia Sieg, a neighbor who was aware of his criminal history, complained about his presence at the school.
The Statesman Journal published a story Monday about Sieg's concerns regarding Berg and the preschool photo sessions.
"This is good news," Sieg said Friday upon learning of Berg's arrest. "I'm happy they actually followed through."
Posted by Nealus at October 23, 2004 12:48 PM
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