Rochester man charged with trying to solicit a decoy posing as 15-year-old

Mark Berg, of Rochester, faces two counts of child solicitation, both Level 5 felonies.

A Rochester man was arrested Thursday on a warrant charging him with child solicitation after allegedly sending inappropriate messages and pictures of himself to someone posing as a 15-year-old girl. 

Court records indicate that Mark C. Berg, 56, 1010 Jefferson St., Rochester, faces two counts of child solicitation, both Level 5 felonies carrying a penalty upon conviction of up to 6 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

A probable cause affidavit prepared by Detective Ben Wood of the Rochester Police Department indicates that an adult male texted Berg, initially telling him that he is a 17-year-old girl from Culver working in Rochester. Shortly after they began texting, the decoy reportedly claimed to be lying about their age and told Berg they were actually 15 years old. 

Despite being openly worried about getting in trouble with police, texting "Omg I can't talk to u" and "That will get me 20 years," Berg continued to message the decoy, whom he knew as 15-year-old "Kaitlyn," according to the probable cause affidavit. 

Berg reportedly told the decoy that he was worried he was being set up, but continued to message anyway. The probable cause affidavit also indicates that the decoy repeatedly stated that "she" would be done talking with Berg if he wasn't comfortable, and he always continued the conversations. 

Berg allegedly began calling the decoy his "babysitter" and requesting pictures. He allegedly also sent a selfie and pictures of his boat, stating that he wants to take "her" fishing sometime. He also reportedly talked about them getting pizza together. 

After reviewing the texts, Wood reports that Berg quickly turned the conversation sexual and began trying to get the supposed girl to come to his house. The context of their text messages are reportedly very apparent in that "she" would be coming over to have sex. 

Upon the decoy claiming to be nervous about meeting up, Berg allegedly offered them marijuana and alcohol. 

Wood goes on to note that Berg eventually asked "Kaitlyn" to delete their messages and stopped messaging after getting annoyed that "she" wasn't responding fast enough. 

Pictures of "Kaitlyn" sent to Berg were actually of an adult female friend of the decoy, according to the probable cause affidavit. 

Court records also indicate that electronic devices, including cellphones and a laptop, were to be seized from Berg as part of the investigation. 

Berg was served with an arrest warrant at his home and subsequently booked at the Fulton County Jail on a $25,000 surety bond. His case is pending in Fulton Superior Court.