PROVO, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A Utah County plastic surgeon has pleaded guilty to second degree felony kidnapping stemming from a 911 call made by his girlfriend who had allegedly been tied up in a closet.
Dr. Joseph Berg made the deal Tuesday morning in Provo's district court.
Berg pleaded guilty to the second degree felony kidnapping charge which had previously been first degree offense.
Berg also pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and to possession of gun by a restricted person.
An assault charge was dismissed.
Berg was charged last month with kidnapping and assault, and court documents name his live-in girlfriend as the victim.
During the 911 call, Berg's girlfriend remained silent even after repeated attempts by the dispatcher to get her to respond.
The 911 recording revealed other voices, along with prolonged screaming and crying from someone in the background. Investigators later learned that the woman was allegedly being abused.
Dispatchers traced the phone call to an address in Orem.
A friend of the alleged victim later told ABC 4 that Dr. Berg was hitting the woman, grabbing her hair and dragging her through the house.
The friend told ABC 4 that Berg taped the victim's hands together and taped her to a bedroom dresser.
Police say Berg eventually placed the victim in a closet, where she made the silent phone call.
