Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
On Friday, July 29, Bernard Cooper (born Oct. 2, 1973) of Lamont was convicted of three counts of Sexual Battery on a Child Under Twelve Years of Age and one count of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation. On the same day as the conviction, Cooper was sentenced to the mandatory minimum sentence of Life Imprisonment, without the possibility of release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Cayelan Cwirka, who said, “This was a collaborative effort with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Child Protection Team, and the State Attorney’s Office. I am grateful to see justice prevail for the victim in this case.”
Cooper was represented by Defense Attorney Zachary R. White. According to the 3rd Amended Information document filed in the case, the prosecuted offenses occurred between April 26, 2013, and April 25, 2016. During a two-and-a-half-day trial presided over by Circuit Judge Dawn Caloca-Johnson at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Monticello, Fla., the State called seven witnesses and entered into evidence a Child Protection Team (CPT) Forensic Drawing, a CPT video of their interview with the child, and business records of the Defendant's wife's work hours. The Defense called four witnesses, and there was one law enforcement witness.
The Probable Cause Affidavit prepared by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO), states that on March 5, 2019, a JCSO investigator was notified of a sexual battery case which was discovered by a school counselor during a session with a student. The report made to the Florida Abuse Hotline outlines sexual abuse that had been ongoing for approximately five years. On March 7, 2019, the investigator observed a forensically sound interview with the child, conducted by a case coordinator with VOCA (Victims of Crime Act). Then, on March 11, 2019, JCSO investigators went to the Cooper residence and advised him why they were there. Cooper was read his Miranda Rights and placed under oath. According to the affidavit, Cooper stated that he understood his Miranda Rights, had not asked for an attorney and agreed to speak to the investigators. He was advised that he was a suspect in a child sexual battery case before being questioned. The investigator's narrative states that Cooper's answers were evasive or provided excuses that led the investigator to believe Cooper was not being truthful. The narrative concludes, “Based on the evidence obtained during the forensically sound interview, there is sufficient evidence to support the allegations of Sexual Battery on a child under 12 years of age.”
Following the trial, conviction and sentencing, Cooper was placed in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC), and on Aug. 3 was received at DOC's Reception and Medical Center (Male) located in Lake Butler, Fla. As of Aug. 7, he remained at this location, awaiting placement at a correctional institution.