Barnstable Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Children

BOSTON — A Barnstable man accused of sexual exploitation of children and possessing child pornography has pleaded guilty in federal court.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Atticus J. Bernard, 22, pleaded guilty of November 18 to two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography.

His sentencing has been scheduled for February 17, 2023.

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Bernard was arrested and indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2021 and has remained in federal custody.

Bernard is charged sexually exploiting two minor girls, under the age of five, who were known to him. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said he is accused of documenting the abuse and exploitation on his cell phone, as well as possessing materials depicting child sexual abuse.

They said a search of his phone in January 2021 revealed numerous photos of Bernard exploiting the minor victims.

The charges of sexual exploitation of children each provide for mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.

The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.