A Matherville man facing child sexual abuse charges has been released from custody on GPS tracking and will return to court in March.
24-year-old Bryce Berhenke was arrested in November and charged with five Class X felony counts of dissemination of child sexual abuse materials and five Class 2 felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials under the age of 13.
According to an Illinois State Police (ISP) press release, agents executed a search warrant at Berhenke’s residence and collected electronic devices. ISP analyzed the evidence and found child sexual abuse materials.
At a detention hearing in November, Berhenke was granted pretrial release with conditions, including GPS monitoring. Mercer County State’s Attorney Grace Simpson petitioned to deny Berhenke pretrial release at the hearing. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 9.
A fitness evaluation has been ordered for Berhenke as part of the case.