Ex-Berthoud officer pleads guilty to child abuse

Fired Berthoud police officer Jeremy Yachik pleaded guilty Friday to one count of child abuse of a 15-year-old girl.

Yachik was fired after a video of a child allegedly being punched and kicked by a man surfaced last year. Yachik admitted he is in the video with his teenage daughter. Yachik said the alleged punch was just a tap the arm. His attorney says independent investigators found no abuse after reviewing the tape before it was made public.

Another investigation was ordered, prompting Berthoud police chief Glenn Johnson to resign.

According to KMGH-TV, Yachik is scheduled for sentencing on July 18. He is seeking a sentence of supervised probation.

Berthoud’s board of trustees asked the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office to provide police protection for the next two years