📍 BEDFORD, IN — A multi-agency prosecution in Lawrence Superior Court 2 has concluded with a 105-year prison sentence for a California man following a four-day jury trial.
On August 27, 2026, Judge Robert "Bob" Cline sentenced Bernardo Revelez Tapia after a jury found him guilty across nine separate felony counts, along with a Repeat Sexual Offender Enhancement.
The Legal Representation & Investigation
The prosecution was spearheaded through interagency collaboration involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies:
Prosecution Team: Special Deputy Prosecutor Carrie Speer (Greene County) and Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sarah Cummings represented the State of Indiana.
Defense Counsel: Timothy Sledd and Nicole Smith of the Lawrence County Public Defender’s Office represented Tapia.
Investigative Support: The case involved joint efforts between the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office, Greene County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, federal law enforcement, and the Lawrence County Prosecutor's Office.
Lawrence County Prosecutor Samuel C. Arp II commended the joint efforts:
"This was a great example of interagency collaboration between the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office, Greene County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, federal law enforcement and my administration. This case represents a justice system that fires on all cylinders to protect the youth of southern Indiana. It is my hope that would-be predators take notice of the consequences they will face if they come into our community. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of the jury, the judge, and all who assisted with this successful prosecution."
🔍 Trial & Jury Verdict Breakdown
(Cause No. 47D02-2409-F1-001280)
Following a trial that ran from July 27 through July 30, 2026, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts:
Count 1: Rape (Level 1 Felony) — Guilty
Count 2: Rape (Level 1 Felony) — Guilty
Count 3: Child Molesting (Defendant 21+ Years of Age) (Level 1 Felony) — Guilty
Count 4: Child Molesting (Defendant 21+ Years of Age) (Level 1 Felony) — Guilty
Count 5: Promotion of Child Sexual Trafficking (Level 3 Felony) — Guilty
Count 6: Promotion of Sexual Trafficking of a Younger Child (Level 3 Felony) — Guilty
Count 7: Strangulation (Level 6 Felony) — Guilty
Count 8: Strangulation (Level 6 Felony) — Guilty
Count 9: Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony) — Guilty
Enhancement: Repeat Sexual Offender Sentence Enhancement — Found/Granted
⛓️ Final Disposition
Total Executed Sentence:105 Years committed to the Indiana Department of Correction.
Medical Orders: Following the jury verdict, Judge Cline issued mandatory HIV testing orders for Tapia pursuant to IC 35-38-1-10.5.
