Jan. 15, 2014: Mark P. Bernardini, the North Salem therapist who abused a 12-year-old Yonkers boy in a therapy session held at his 27 Milburn Street office on July 2, 2013, and a 19-year-old woman during a therapy session held in his home in North Salem on May 16, 2013, pleaded guilty on Thursday, January 9, to two charges of sexual abuse, according to a January 9 article in the Journal News.
The guilty plea, which was made in Westchester County Court in White Plains, was for one count of first-degree criminal sexual act, a felony, and one count of forcible touching, a misdemeanor, according to the article.
According to an interview with Bronxville Police Chief Christopher Satriale by MyhometownBronxville the week after the incident involving the Yonkers boy, "On Tuesday, July 2, the 12-year-old-boy told his mother at 6:30 pm after a therapy session with Bernardini that he had been sodomized by him. The parents called the Bronxville police at 8:27 pm that evening and asked police officers to meet with them outside Bernardini's office at 27 Milburn Street, which they did. . . . Bernardini was arrested on Wednesday, July 3, and charged with a 'first-degree criminal sexual act,' a felony." He was sent to Westchester County jail on $150,000 bail.
The Journal News article states that Mr. Bernardini "is expected to receive five years in state prison and 15 years post-release supervision when he is sentenced Feb. 19, after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors."
Pictured here: Mark P. Bernardini.
Photo courtesy Bronxville Police Chief Christopher Satriale
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours
Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
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Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400