School Worker Blackmailed Kids Into Sending Nude Photos: BurlCo Prosecutor

DELANCO, NJ — A school employee was charged Thursday after authorities say he blackmailed young girls into sending him nude photos of themselves.

Bryce Berger, 24, used an online app to request and receive nude images from underage girls, authorities said. He then threatened to post the images if the victims didn't send him additional photos, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office (BCPO).

Berger works for Medford Township Public Schools as a computer technician, the BCPO said. It's a non-teaching position, and he was never around students in an unsupervised capacity, school officials told investigators.

None of the victims are believed to be students in the school system, but the investigation is continuing, the BCPO said.

The Medford district serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It wasn't immediately clear at which school(s) Berger has worked in the district.

Berger has worked at Medford schools for about a year, according to state records. He was an IT specialist for Riverside High School from July 2022 to July 2023, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Investigation into Berger began after the BCPO received information about his alleged online activities. Authorities have identified multiple victims ranging from approximately 12 to 17 years old.

Berger also sent sexually explicit images to victims and sent child pornography to another person, authorities said.

He was arrested Thursday morning as authorities executed a search warrant at his Delanco home. Multiple electronic devices were seized and will be examined by detectives in the BCPO's High-Tech Crimes Unit.

Berger was charged with production of child sex abuse material (first-degree), possession with intent to distribute child sex abuse material (second-degree), distribution of child sex abuse material (second-degree), impairing/debauching the morals of a child (second-degree), possession of child sex abuse material (third-degree), obscenity to a minor (third-degree) and sexual extortion (third-degree).

He was placed in the Burlington County Jail, pending a detention hearing. Prosecutors will prepare the case for possible indictment.