Bernier gets 60 days in jail in DC sex abuse case

Michael Bernier at Rochester court hearing in April. (Lebanon Voice file photo)

WASHINGTON - A Milton man was sentenced to 180 days in a District of Columbia jail after he pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor sex abuse.

Michael Bernier, 48, of Felker Drive, Milton, was sentenced this morning in a Washington courtroom.

Bernier will only have to serve 60 days as 120 were suspended.

After his 60 days are served he will be on probation for three years, according to the DC court website.

Bernier had been scheduled for a Tuesday trial in Rochester District Court on several charges brought forward by Milton Police, including two criminal threatening charges, a disorderly conduct charge and two stalking charges which all occurred between Jan 1 and March 11.

That trial will now apparently be postponed.

Milton Police Chief Richard Krauss was not immediately available, but Bernier’s DC court sentencing details indicated he would be remanded directly to jail.

They also indicated that probation would likely be transferred to New Hampshire and that Bernier is to “stay away from the district.”

As part of his probation Bernier must submit to a mental health screening/evaluation, drug testing, drug treatment program, alcohol testing, alcohol treatment program and to stay away from the victim, who lives in Washington.

Bernier’s relationship to the victim is unknown.

The May 8 charge of felony sex abuse was reduced to a misdemeanor as part of a plea deal reached between prosecutors and Bernier’s public defendant.