Bernaud
ANSONIA – State police arrested a 27-year-old Ansonia man for allegedlysending inappropriate Instagram messages to a child.
According to an arrest warrant posted on the Connecticut State Police website, Michael Bernaud met the victim, a 13-year-old boy, at a restaurant in Orange.
Beginning in December of last year, he allegedly began sending vulgar messages to the victim and requesting lewd pictures and videos in exchange for money.
The victim’s parents were alerted when, earlier this month, Bernaud allegedly offered the victim a ride to an event in Warwick, Rhode Island.
The victim later emailed transcripts of their Instagram messages to police, describing them as “possibly ‘pedophile type’ conversations.” The victim also told police that Bernaud had previously met up with another, 14-year-old boy.
Bernaud appeared to have introduced himself to the victim by describing his own work history at amusement parks and arcades.
Bernaud was arrested on Wednesday (April 17) after he turned himself in to the Connecticut State Police Station in Litchfield. He was charged on one count of risk of injury to a child.
Bernaud was released on a $50,000 bond, according to the state police press release, and is scheduled to be arraigned in Waterbury on May 1.
