Troy Michael Bernard
Posted by: Webmaster in Coaches, Hall of Shame, ME-FV, Middle Schools, Minnesota(6/06/07 - Initial BBT Report)
Troy Michael Bernard, 35, and a teacher at Montgomery Middle School in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has been charged with first degree criminal sexual conduct for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old student.
Bernard, who was the girl’s volleyball coach, allegedly began the relationship with the girl last summer when she was 14-years-old.
The Le Sueur County sheriff’s department first became aware of Bernard’s alleged conduct near the end of May when a county child protection worker brought the relationship to light.
A Sheriff’s deputy spoke to the girl’s mother, who acknowledged that she was aware of the relationship and had told her daughter not to see Bernard again. She also said she had confronted Bernard and he admitted that he’d had sex with her daughter.
The girl’s mother allegedly discovered the relationship last month when she checked her daughter’s cell phone and discovered text messages between her daughter and Bernard.
Bernard, during a phone call from the girl’s mother, allegedly admitted that he had sex with the girl. The mother made the call at the request of police, who were listening in on the call.
Bernard is being held on $100,000 bail.
6/19/07 - Search For More Victims
The Le Sueur County Sheriff’s office is investigating calls regarding other possible victims. See reference below.
10/23/07 - Guilty Plea
Troy Michael Bernard pleaded guilty to first degree criminal sexual conduct, for having an almost year long sexual relationship with a female student.
Bernard entered the plea Monday before his trial was to begin in Le Sueur County District Court. His lawyer indicated that Bernard did not want the victim testifying in open court.
Bernard faces up to a maximum of 12 years in prison at his January 8th sentencing. Prior to the sentencing he will undergo a psychological evaluation as part of the pre-sentence investigation.
1/25/08 - Sentencing
Troy Bernard was today sentenced to 12 years in prison the result of his October guilty plea to first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
The prosecutor indicated that Bernard would have to serve at least 8 years of his term before becoming eligible for parole.
References:
Teacher gets max sentence in sex case (1/26/08)
Coach Sentenced to 12 Years for Sexual Misconduct (1/25/08)
Former teacher gets 12 years in prison for sex with student (1/25/08)
Former teacher gets 12 years in prison for sex with student (1/25/08)
Former Montgomery-Lonsdale teacher pleads guilty to sexual contact with student (10/22/07)
There may be more victims in teacher sex case
Montgomery teacher charged with sex crime (Later report, more info)
Teacher charged with having sex with a student
Teacher, Coach Charged With Sexual Misconduct
Your IP Address is:
199.17.97.14
Entries (RSS)
August 8th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Lynn, you are totally out of line with your comments. This young girl has been pyschologically affected and this will stay with her for a very, very long time. Troy Bernard has an identical twin brother who was living with him at the time he had this relationship. This twin brother (also an educator and coach) claims he did not know anything about the relationship even though most of the incidents took place in Troys home. You can’t even imagine the comments and rumors.
,
(Deleted by site moderator as this portion of the comment violated site policies as outlined in the “About Comments” page.)
.
Girls that have been allegedly abused are scared to come forward. I urge parents to self-educate and watch for abnormal changes in your child’s behavior. We live in an ugly world where we are surrounded by predators. They are in our schools where our children should be protected. This young girl that Troy Bernard abused has endured more trauma than any person should endure in a life-time. I pray for her and all other children that have been abused that they heal with time.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:11 am
this is sick but why does a man get more time in prison then a woman??
they equality then give it to them!!!
February 4th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I am a graduate of Montgomery-Lonsdale H.S. and know first hand that there were at least 2 other victims. Since coming to the school in 1999, I believe, he was known for having his “favorite” athlete on his volleyball team. Most students had a feeling that something was going on with him and these students. Don’t say that it was a waste of money to put him away, I think that if everyone involved would have come forward, you would see that he has been doing this for a long time and in fact deserves more than the 12 years he received. And “Lynn”, you believe this girl was only embarrassed a little and didn’t suffer at all? She has since dropped out of school because of the ridicule of former classmates and friends.
Comment edited by site admin to bring it into compliance with our policies regarding comments.
February 1st, 2008 at 11:39 am
Robin,
I completely agree with you, it’s as though you read my mind. People who feel his punishment was too harsh hand heartless idiots. I can not imagine what this poor sweet girl is going through.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I can not even start to comprehend the opinion of “Lynn”. As an adult your role in a child’s life is to teach and protect. Take one minute to think back to your first “love”. Shouldn’t that first love include that silliness of being mad because your boyfriend looked at another girl. Or being hurt because your girlfriend didn’t call you back. That pure innocence of a relationship that comes from both parties involved being on the same level of maturity. Not a man seeking a child to fulfill his sick and demented ways. Where was his adult girlfriend? If he was a rockstar, where was his mob of ADULT groupies? Why would he need to resort to chasing a child? I will never think on any level that a man/woman should even consider a child as a partner in any way other than a potato sack race! I just hope that the victim that is involved in this case does not read your post. Living in a small town I bet this child is made to feel badly often. I hope your thought process shared in your above post does not make her feel worse. I say we all take a bow to this strong individual, who happens to be a child, for standing up and going through the months of heartache and pain to ensure that for at least the next 12 years, this man will not be able to hurt any other children.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Whether you call it a sickness or a crime, it is what it is. It is grown man who used his charm to take advantage of a child. I have children and I see their friends as young silly boys and girls. If I saw them as sexual beings, that would be wrong. I also hope other adults don’t see my children as sexual beings. I know Troy and he was my “secret santa” when i worked at the school with him. He gave me 3 very inappropriate gifts during that week. I thought then that was sick. Being good looking doesn’t make this less of a crime than if he was gross and non-athletic. If you start with 16 years olds, then go to 14 year olds, what is next 12? Then 10? Minds just shouldn’t go there. Trust me, this man is no rock star or superhero! He is a child molester! She is a child! Would you want him to babysit your child or trust him, knowing what you know now if he were on probation???
January 30th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
NO he wasn’t hanging out in parks…he was hanging out where no parets are able to watch their children! His actions were very calculated. Not just one time bad judgement. It went on for almost a year!! From the sounds of it this child was NOT his only victim. Others detured from coming forward because of how it was “destroying this childs life”!
How do you know how this CHILD suffers, ‘only embarresed her a bit’. I would veture to guess her suffering will be with her for life!
January 28th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
From what we have seen here at BBT, Mr. Bernard “got off easy” in comparison to the toll his criminal behavior extracted upon the victim and her family.
Hopefully we will have more, a lot more, to say in this regard shortly.
January 27th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Although Troy is comitted a crime, and demonstrated what a low-life he is, his sentence was too harsh. Let’s face it, popular, good-looking teachers/coaches, especially in small towns, have rock star status. Troy did not ruin this girl’s life. Maybe embarrased her a bit, but I’d venture to guess she did not suffer. Should Troy of did what he did? NO. But it’s not like the guy was hanging out at parks trying to rape 5-year-olds. This guy deserved two years probation and a huge fine. Not wasting tax money in a prison cell. I feel bad for his family.