Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Branden Tyler Bernard, a resident of Box Elder, South Dakota, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler to seven years in federal prison for distributing child pornography. This sentence will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Bernard is also required to pay $12,500 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and must register as a sex offender.
Alison J. Ramsdell stated, “This is yet another case in which a bad actor utilized Snapchat to target and sexually exploit a vulnerable young victim here in South Dakota.” She noted that the initial state investigation revealed hundreds of images and videos depicting additional child sex abuse material, leading to further federal charges against Bernard.
Bernard was indicted on charges of Distribution of Child Pornography, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in November 2023. He pleaded guilty on March 21, 2025.
The federal case began during an investigation into Bernard’s sexual victimization of a 13-year-old child in Meade County, South Dakota. Using Snapchat, Bernard solicited the child for sex. When the child's mother reported them missing in 2023, law enforcement found the child at Bernard's home. A forensic examination revealed hundreds of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse on his electronic devices along with over 2,000 messages discussing the trade and distribution of such depictions.
In Meade County Circuit Court, Bernard pleaded guilty to Fourth Degree Rape involving the same child and was sentenced on November 17, 2023, to 14 years in state prison with four years suspended. His federal sentence will run consecutively with his state court sentence.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through collaboration among various levels of law enforcement.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce and Homeland Security Investigations among others. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted this case.
Following sentencing, Bernard was remanded into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
