In 2008, 500 still images and 15 videos of child pornography were found on Edward Bernas' personal computer. In October 2010, he pleaded guilty to the charges.
Sexual interest in "young girls has been part of your life for decades," U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer said to Bernas at Monday's sentencing. Bernas, who lived in Naperville and worked in Downers Grove in the 1980s, was convicted of criminal sexual abuse and indecent liberties with a child in 1985. He got probation in that case.
Judge Pallmeyer sentenced Bernas to 168 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release last week. On Monday he was ordered to pay restitution to an identifiable victim.
Bernas faced a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 20 years. He must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for release and there is no parole in the federal prison system.
