Porterville Predator Sentenced to Life in Prison for Child Molestation
Yesterday in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced Luis Fernando Bernal, age 25, to life in state prison for child molestation. On March 6, 2024, Bernal pleaded no contest to one count of oral copulation with a child ten years of age or younger and one count of lewd act upon a child under the age of fourteen. Bernal admitted the special allegation that his crimes involved substantial sexual conduct. Each count is a felony and considered strike offenses.
The crimes occurred between September 23, 2016, and June 14, 2017, against a female victim, who was between the ages of nine and eleven-years-old at the time of the sexual assaults.
Each of the sexual assault crimes occurred in the Porterville area. Additionally, Bernal will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life. Under current California sentencing laws, Bernal must serve 18 years before being considered for parole.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Chelsea Wayt and investigated by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Assistant District Attorney David Alavezos (559) 636-5494