A registered sex offender living in Montville was arrested today and is facing child pornography charges stemming from a police investigation launched in 2009, according to state police.
Christopher T. Berchem, 39, of 984 Norwich-New London Turnpike in Montville, was arrested Nov. 12 on an active warrant. Police said Berchem is a registered sex offender and was found in possession of child pornography at his former home in Sandy Hook.
Berchem was identified as a suspect in April 2010 after police developed leads during an investigation into the sharing of child pornography over the internet. The investigation led them to Berchem’s former residence at 32 Housatonic Drive in Sandy Hook, where investigators seized several items that were found to contain child pornography files, according to police.
Berchem was arrested Nov. 12 and charged with promoting a minor in an obscene performance and first-degree illegal possession of child pornography. He’s being held on a $50,000 bond and is due in Danbury Superior Court on Nov. 13.
According to the state police sex offender registry, Berchem was convicted in 1998 and 2000 on two counts of injury or risk of injury to or impairing the morals of children. He has also gone by the names Chris Bercham and Timothy Bercham.
The State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigation was launched in Dec. 2009. Newtown police assisted after Berchem was identified.
