Crime & Safety

Family Therapist Indicted on Sex Abuse Charges

One of the incidents is alleged to have taken place at Mark Bernardini's Bronxville office.

A therapist whose alleged victims were a 19-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy was arraigned Aug. 13 on a 9-count indictment, the Westchester County District Attorney's office announced.

The DA alleged that Mark Bernardini, a family therapist working out of his home office in North Salem and an office in Bronxville, had sexual conduct with a boy he was counseling at Milburn Street. 

According to the DA, the victim cried out to his family after the session and they immediately contacted the Bronxville police. The defendant was arrested in his office later that day by the village police.

Bernardini had already been reported to police in connection with a separate incident May 16. He is alleged to have inappropriately touched a 19-year-old woman he was counseling in North Salem. The victim told her parents who contacted the New York State Police, the DA's office said.

Bernardini is due back in court Nov. 12 to face these charges:
  • one count of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, a class “B” Violent Felony,
  • one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class “D” Felony,
  • one count of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a class “E” Felony,
  • one count of Forcible Touching, a class “A” Misdemeanor,
  • one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class “A” Misdemeanor,
  • four counts of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, class “B” Misdemeanors.
He faces a maximum sentence of twenty five years in state prison on the top charge, the DA's office said.

Assistant District Attorney Amy Puerto of the Special Prosecutions Division is prosecuting the case.

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