How Could You? Hall of Shame-Johnnie Jim Berry Jr.

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Deep Water, West Virginia, guardian or foster parent Johnnie Jim Berry, Jr. ,52, was charged with “one count of first degree sexual abuse and one count of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in position of trust in relation to a minor child.

According to Fayette County Sheriff Steve Kessler, the victim was a minor child who was living with Berry at the time of the alleged incident. Deputies were notified of the abuse by a Child Protective Services worker, who reportedly learned of the alleged abuse on May 30. Berry was arraigned in Fayette Magistrate Court and remanded to Southern Regional Jail on $25,000 bond.

“The sexual abuse of a child is a reprehensible crime and one which the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office takes very seriously,” said Kessler. “The investigation of this type of alleged crime is a very high priority for the Sheriff’s Office.””
Man Facing Sex Charges

[Register-Herald 6/12/13 by Jessica Farrish]

“Sheriff Steve Kessler released the following information concerning this arrest:

On May 30, 2013 a report was received through the Child Protective Services Division of DHHR concerning the alleged sexual molestation of a minor child in the Deep Water area of Fayette County. Following an investigation into these allegations by Child Protective Services and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the alleged perpetrator was identified as Johnnie Jim Berry, Jr. age 52, of Deep Water, WV. The victim was a minor child who was residing in Berry’s home at the time of this alleged incident.

On Monday, June 10, 2013 Berry was arrested and charged with one count of First Degree Sexual Abuse and one count of Sexual Abuse by a Parent, Guardian, Custodian or Person in Position of Trust in relation to a minor child. He was arraigned in the Magistrate Court of Fayette County and was remanded to the Southern Regional Jail in lieu of a $25,000.00 bond.

“The sexual abuse of a child is a reprehensible crime, and one which the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office takes very seriously,” said Sheriff Kessler. “The investigation of this type of alleged crime is a very high priority for the Sheriff’s Office. We are extremely grateful for the assistance provided to us in this investigation by the Child Protective Services Division of DHHR and by the Just For Kids, Inc. Child and Youth Advocacy Center in Oak Hill. The services provided by Just For Kids, Inc. greatly improve our effectiveness in investigating allegations of this nature.””

Fayette County man charged with sexual abuse of minor

[WV.com 6/12/13]

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