A 38-year-old Beloit man accused of possessing child sexual abuse material pleaded not guilty this week to a combined 22 counts across two separate cases. Chad D. Bertelsen entered his plea in Rock County court, months after investigators first searched his home on the city's south side.
The case traces back to July, when Rock County sheriff's detectives executed a search warrant at Bertelsen's residence in the 2000 block of Masters Street in Beloit, according to mystateline.com. The warrant was carried out as part of an investigation into the possession of child sexual abuse material, the outlet reported. Investigators initially arrested and charged Bertelsen with 10 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of possession of virtual child pornography.
Search Warrant Executed Early on a July Morning
The search took place around 7:30 a.m. on July 14, when detectives searched the Masters Street home, per wifr.com. The Janesville Police Department's Electronic Storage Detection K9 Maui assisted with the investigation, the station reported. Following his arrest, Bertelsen was being held in the Rock County Jail, and he was expected to make his first appearance in jail court that Wednesday afternoon.
Months later, the case has grown. According to the Beloit Daily News, Bertelsen pleaded not guilty this week to possession of child pornography and virtual child pornography charges, and he is now facing 22 counts total across two cases.
What the Charges Mean Under Wisconsin Law
The offenses Bertelsen faces fall under Wisconsin's criminal code governing child exploitation material. Wisconsin Statute 948.12 covers possession of child pornography, while Statute 948.125 addresses possession of virtual child pornography, according to the Wisconsin Legislature's published statutes.
Rock County court records have not been independently reviewed to confirm every detail of the case's current status, and the complete breakdown of how the 22 counts are split between the two cases has not been made public in available reporting. The outcome of the case, including any potential sentencing, remains undetermined as the matter proceeds through Rock County court.
