Box Elder Man, Previously Sentenced in State Court, Given an Additional 7 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Box Elder, South Dakota, man convicted of Distribution of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on June 23, 2025.

Branden Tyler Bernard, 34, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $12,500 in restitution, as well as a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Bernard will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

“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,” said Alison J. Ramsdell. “When the initial state investigation uncovered hundreds of images and videos depicting additional child sex abuse material, local, state, and federal law enforcement partners collaborated to bring additional federal charges against this defendant. Branden Bernard will now be serving a combined 17-year sentence for his despicable acts.”

Bernard was indicted for 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 originated during the investigation of Bernard’s sexual victimization of a 13-year-old child in Meade County, South Dakota. Bernard had been soliciting the child for sex using Snapchat. When the child’s mother reported the child missing in 2023, law enforcement located the child on Bernard’s bed, in his home. Bernard was arrested for sexual offenses against that child. During the investigation, a forensic examiner with the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce examined multiple electronic devices belonging to Bernard. On Bernard’s devices, investigators located hundreds of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse and more than 2,000 messages Bernard sent to other persons discussing the trade and distribution of child sexual abuse depictions. The victims of Bernard’s criminal conduct ranged in age from infants to preteen minors. At least 25 victims were affirmatively identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Bernard pleaded guilty to Fourth Degree Rape of the 13-year-old child in Meade County Circuit Court. He was sentenced on November 17, 2023, to 14 years in state prison, with four years suspended. Bernard’s federal sentence was ordered to run consecutively to his sentence in state court.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.

Bernard was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.