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Feb. 19, 2013 -- Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Mark Bernardini DOB (03/17/56) of 955 Peach Lake Road, North Salem, New York was sentenced today to five years in state prison and fifteen years post release supervision on his Jan. 2014 guilty plea to:

•    one count of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, a class “B” Violent Felony,
•    one count of Forcible Touching, a class “A” Misdemeanor,

relating to two separate incidents with two different victims.

On May 16, 2013, the defendant, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), inappropriately touched a 19-year-old woman that he was counseling at his home office in North Salem.

The victim told her parents who contacted the New York State Police.

On July 2, 2013, at his office located at 27 Milburn Street in Bronxville, the defendant engaged in sexual contact with a 12-year-old boy that he was counseling.

The victim cried out to his family after the session and they immediately contacted the Bronxville police.

The defendant was arrested outside of his office later that day by the Bronxville police.

“This defendant used his position of trust and authority as a therapist to target, take advantage of and exploit for his own desires these two unsuspecting victims. Instead of helping them with their vulnerabilities, he used them. The courage displayed by both young victims in this case in immediately alerting their parents to what had transpired resulted in this defendant being held accountable today,” said District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

Upon his release he will have to register as a sex offender under the provisions of Megan’s Law.
 
Assistant District Attorney Amy Puerto of the Special Prosecutions Division prosecuted the case.