Benjamin Berg

A former Minot Public School employee and former Minot City Council member has been sentenced after entering a change of plea to guilty for a charge of solicitation of a minor.

Benjamin Lawrence Berg, 35, Minot, entered his change of plea in North Central District Court on Friday. Berg was originally charged with one count of luring minors by computer, a Class C felony.

In accordance with a plea agreement with the Ward County State’s Attorney, the charge against Berg was downgraded to solicitation of a minor-victim 15 or older, a Class A misdemeanor. District Judge Richard Hagar sentenced Berg to 360 days in the Ward County Jail, to first serve three days with credit for three days already served. Berg was ordered to register as a sex offender, to complete two years of supervised probation, and have no contact with the victim.

Based on court records, Berg will not be eligible for early termination of supervised probation. He was also assessed $325 in court fines and fees.