December 20, 2022
(McKinney, Texas) – Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced that Ricardo Bernal, 49, of Wylie, Texas, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after the jury found him guilty of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child. “There is one thing we can agree with Ricardo Bernal on – that he is in fact a monster. And because of this jury’s verdict, this monster will remain exactly where he should be for the rest of his life – behind bars,” stated Willis after sentencing.
Bernal was an adult who was known by and had ongoing access to the victim. He sexually abused the victim over the course of four years, starting when the victim was as young as six years old. Eventually, the victim disclosed the abuse to another family member, which led to the abuse being reported to Wylie Police Department.
Wylie Police Department Detective Joey Scimone investigated the case and interviewed Bernal, who admitted to the abuse and referred to himself as a “monster” during that interview. The victim was forensically interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, where they disclosed details about the abuse.
Judge Don Adams presided over the case.
The jury found Bernal guilty of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child and assessed punishment at life in prison. By law, a sentence for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child is without eligibility for parole.
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Nicola Hines and Alex Haynes prosecuted the case, assisted by District Attorney Investigators Kim Voigt-Eanes, Sarah Putman and Sam Selman, Victim Assistance Coordinator Shaunette Bronson, and Legal Secretary Christy Ware.
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