David Bernard

GREYBULL (WNE) — A Greybull man who was forced to resign from the town council after being arrested on multiple felony counts of receiving and distributing child pornography recently entered a not guilty plea in Big Horn County Fifth Judicial District Court in Basin.

David Bernard was arrested on Feb. 4. The original charging document listed 14 felony counts — seven alleging he “possessed with intent to deliver” child pornography files, seven alleging he “received and/or delivered” files. The offenses all allegedly occurred Oct. 2.

Each of the 14 counts is a felony punishable by imprisonment not less than five years nor more than 12 years, a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.

Since his arrest, prosecutors have added six additional felony counts, alleging that Bernard “possessed” child pornography on or about Feb. 10. 

During a March 17 hearing, Judge Bobbi Overfield informed Bernard that, if convicted of all charges and ordered to serve them consecutively, he could get up to 242 years in prison, up to $200,000 in fines, or both.

Defense attorney Travis Smith entered not guilty pleas to all 20 counts on behalf of Bernard, who appeared in person from the jail on the video conference call.

While there was no objection to bond remaining at $400,000 cash, the judge granted Smith’s request to ease bond conditions to permit the delivery of a drawing that had been created by Bernard’s child and dropped off at the jail.