A Sylmar man, identified as 79-year-old Edwin Bernard, has been sentenced to life in federal prison for a series of violent sex crimes committed against children, with victims including infants and toddlers. As reported by KTLA, Bernard pleaded guilty to four counts of child exploitation. These counts included possession, distribution, and production of child pornography, as well as coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activities.
According to the FBI, Bernard actively sought to groom young boys on the internet from at least 2009 to 2014. They revealed that the individual served as a moderator on forums specifically catered to men interested in sexual relations with minors, using the usernames ‘netzoomer’ and ‘netzoomer16’. "By at least 2009, Bernard served as a moderator under the usernames ‘netzoomer’ and ‘netzoomer16’ on websites where men seek to engage sexually with minor boys," the FBI detailed in a statement cited by FOXLA. He was known to have instructed a 14-year-old victim to perform sex acts, some of which he recorded without the child's consent or knowledge.
When authorities executed a search warrant at Bernard's residence in 2019, they discovered an overbearing collection of over 115,000 files suspected to contain child sexual abuse material (CSAM), as affirmed in the CBS News Los Angeles release. An analysis from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children pinpointed at least 207 real children in these disturbing images and videos. Metadata analysis suggested Bernard had been collecting CSAM for more than a decade, with content distressingly featuring masochistic conduct and involving children under the age of 12.
The FBI fears there are still unidentified victims and has strongly urged those who believe they were victimized or possess information about potential victims to come forward. They can contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. As noted by KTLA, Michael Rushmer, an affiliate of Bernard indicted for participating in child exploitation, has already been sentenced in New York for producing CSAM and engaging in sex with a minor. The FBI's ongoing investigations aim to not only fully account for Bernard's actions but also to provide a measure of justice and closure to the affected individuals. A restitution hearing for Bernard has been scheduled for October 9th, as further detailed by FOXLA.
