FARMINGTON — Davis Behavioral Health board member Marlon Raymond Berrett resigned from his position the same day a class B misdemeanor “sexual solicitation” charge against him was made public.
Berrett, by email, submitted his resignation early Saturday to Davis Behavioral Health, resigning, effective immediately, from the Davis Behavioral Health board, said DBH Chief Executive Officer Brandon Hatch.
Hatch said Berrett indicated in his resignation letter that he was leaving the board, having “drawn some negative attention to DBH.”
“I anticipated (Berrett) would submit his resignation,” Hatch said.
Hatch said he was surprised upon first hearing of the misdemeanor charge against Berrett.
Berrett was in his sixth year on the Davis Behavioral Health Board of Trustees, and had served the organization faithfully, Hatch said.
Davis County Commissioner Bret Millburn, DBH Board of Trustee member, said Berrett’s resignation does “not necessarily” surprise him, even though he was totally unaware of the charge against Berrett until contacted by the Standard-Examiner on Friday.
A story about Berrett’s April 12 arrest in an undercover operation by Layton police appeared in the Standard-Examiner on Saturday.
Attempts on Monday to reach Berrett’s attorney, Ron K. Nichols, of Ogden, for comment were unsuccessful.
Berrett is to appear May 29 in 2nd District Court in Layton on the class B misdemeanor charge. A class B misdemeanor is punishable by up to six months in prison and/or a $1,500 fine.
Layton city prosecutors, when contacted Monday, declined to comment on Berrett’s resignation, stating the case against him is currently being evaluated by their office.
According to a Layton police probable cause statement obtained by the Standard-Examiner through a GRAMA request, police observed on April 4 that Berrett had posted an Internet ad on Craigslist with sexually explicit language.
Through email correspondence with Berrett over several days, it was arranged for him to go to a location in Layton to “engage in sexual acts in exchange for money,” police documents read.
According to the report, Berrett admitted to corresponding with the undercover officer via email and arranging to pay $20 each time the sexual acts took place.
Davis Behavioral Health, with offices in Layton, is a private organization that Davis County contracts with to provide mental health counseling and substance abuse counseling services.
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