Sergio Bernal
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces that Sergio Bernal, age 36, of Passaic,
New Jersey, was sentenced to an aggregate term of sixty-nine years in New Jersey State Prison by
the Honorable Marilyn C. Clark, a Judge of the Superior Court.
On August 5, 2020, the Passaic Police Department contacted the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office
Special Victims Unit to report that a 16-year-old child had been sexually assaulted in Passaic, New
Jersey. Thereafter, members of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit
interviewed the victim and several witnesses. The victim reported being sexually abused by Mr.
Bernal on different occasions between October 2013 and August 2020 at multiple residences in
Passaic. Based on the investigation, Mr. Bernal was arrested for and charged with various sexual
offenses against the victim. A further investigation revealed that after he had been arrested, Sergio
Bernal had attempted to bribe several witnesses to recant their statements.
The Honorable Marilyn C. Clark, J.S.C. presided over a jury trial in June 2024, and on June 17,
2024, a Passaic County jury returned a verdict, finding Sergio Bernal guilty one count of first degree
Aggravated Sexual Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2a(1), two counts of first degree
Aggravated Sexual Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2a(2)(c), three counts of second degree
Sexual Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2b, counts of second degree Endangering the Welfare
of a Child, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1), one count of third degree Endangering the Welfare
of a Child, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1), one count of third degree Aggravated Criminal
Sexual Contact, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3a, , one count of second degree Hindering
Apprehension or Prosecution, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3b(3), one count of third degree
Terroristic Threats, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3a, two counts of third degree Witness
Tampering, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:28-5a(1), two counts of third degree Conspiracy to Commit
Witness Tampering, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:28-5a(1), two counts of
second degree Bribery of a Witness, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:28-5d, two counts of second degree
Conspiracy to Commit Bribery of a Witness, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:28-
5a(1), and one count of fourth degree Tampering with Physical Evidence, in violation of N.J.S.A.
2C:28-6(1).
On January 17, 2025, Judge Clark sentenced Mr. Bernal to an aggregate term of 69 years in New
Jersey State Prison, approximately 42 years of which must be served before parole eligibility. Upon
release from prison, Mr. Bernal will be subject to Parole Supervision for Life and Megan’s Law
registration requirements.
Passaic County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Melissa Simsen and Assistant Prosecutor Rania Gabr
represented the State during the jury trial before Judge Clark and Mr. Bernal was represented by
Gregory Aprile, Esq.
