On the way to jail, police say he admitted having sex with a minor, but in court today, a former counselor changed his story, pleading not guilty to 27 counts of sexual assault. 29 year old Barry Bergmann met the girl at a treatment center for troubled teens where he worked as a supervisor. Barry Bergmann pleaded not guilty to sexual assault against one female victim under 16.
The female victim under 16 was my niece Brittany whose picture is on the right. Partially due to this crime she committed suicide. I had the opportunity on Friday to go to Indian Springs with Brittany's parents to Barry's physc board hearing. This hearing was to determine if Barry was still a high risk to re-offend. Here are some excerpts from the statements her mother Lynette and I made at the hearing.
Lynette's Comments:
"I am here speaking to you as a survivor of a victim who can only be heard from those of us who have survived through the events, in my opinion caused by this inmate's actions."
"I am now her voice for all to hear. I did not get to see her graduate or start college. I will never get to see her walk down the isle or start a family."
"Barry Bergmann got 2-10 years and I got a life sentence."
My Comments:
"I do not know what was going on in his mind when he committed these crimes. It is my belief that he should have never been working in the mental health profession dealing with emotionally unbalanced people; especially teenagers. To me he took advantage of a 13 year old child and played with her head."
"She was found in her cell hanging from a bedsheet. As long as I live I will never get that image out of my head."
"Brittany had the potential to be anything she wanted. Those of us left behind are left to forever wonder what she would have become."
After Lynette, Jim and I addressed the board, the board questioned Barry thoroughly. In the course of Barry's remarks, he FINALLY admitted that he was partially responsible for Brittany's death. A statement which made Lynette very happy. Barry felt at the time he committed these crimes that he has helping Brittany. One doctor on the board did not buy it. He said something to the effect of you actually thought you were helping when you asked your dick be put into someone's mouth. My brother at this point was ready to kill the SOB. He feels as I do that this guy is the worst kind of sexual predator. Barry basically lied his ass off about everything. It did not take the board long to decide he was still a high risk to re-offend.
With this determination by the board, Barry will be denied parole next month. So this was our day of victory. After we left the hearing we all cried and hugged each other. After that he went to a bar a had couple of drinks to relax and celebrate.
