Years-Long Sex Abuse Of Child Leads To Lengthy Prison Sentence For NJ Man

PASSAIC, NJ — A Passaic man has been sentenced to decades in prison after sexually abusing a child for almost seven years, officials said.

Last June, a petit jury convicted Sergio Bernal of crimes including aggravated sexual assault, child endangerment, sexual assault, bribery, and tampering with both witnesses and physical evidence.

On Friday, Superior Court Judge Marilyn C. Clark sentenced Bernal, 36, to an aggregate term of 69 years in prison.

Officials began investigating the assaults in August of 2020. The 16-year-old victim said that they had been sexually abused multiple times since October of 2013, at different residences in Passaic.

Investigators interviewed the victim and several witnesses to identify Bernal as the suspect, then arrested and charged him.

After the initial indictment, Bernal tried to bribe witnesses with money and financial assistance so they would recant their statements, the prosecutor's office said.

Bernal will be eligible for parole after approximately 42 years, the prosecutor's office said. Upon release, he would be subject to parole supervision for life and Megan's Law registration.