Chiropractor Ronald Bernardini pleads guilty to endangering the welfare of a child, prosecutors say
The Suffolk police provided this image of Ronald Bernardini. Credit: SCPD
A Lake Ronkonkoma chiropractor pleaded guilty to a charge of endangering the welfare of a child, Suffolk prosecutors said, in a plea deal stemming from accusations that he had inappropriately touched a 16-year-old female patient during an October 2022 exam.
Ronald Bernardini, then 65, of Smithtown, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child before acting County Court Judge James Saladino on Sept. 12, 2023, according to prosecutors. As part of the plea deal, all other charges in the case were dismissed, and Bernardini surrendered his license to practice as a chiropractor, prosecutors said. Saladino also issued an order of protection, ordering Bernardini to stay away from the victim, prosecutors said.
"This defendant abused his position as a licensed chiropractor when he took advantage of an innocent patient to satisfy his own sexual interests," Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said in a statement issued on Sept. 12, 2023.
According to court documents, the victim was seen by Bernardini on Oct. 24, 2022, for a routine chiropractor examination. The teen was brought into one examination room while her father was seen in another, prosecutors said.
During the exam, Bernardini "unnecessarily brushed his hands against the breasts of the then-16-year-old female patient," prosecutors said in a news release announcing the plea deal.
After the examination concluded, the victim texted a friend and her father about what happened, prosecutors said. Both father and daughter left the chiropractic office and the victim contacted her mother, who called police, according to prosecutors.
Bernardini was arrested the next day, they said.
Bernardini's attorney, Anthony La Pinta of Hauppauge, said accepting the plea bargain was "an extremely difficult decision for Dr. Bernardini because we were equipped with many persuasive facts and powerful arguments for trial."
"The dismissal of all other charges was the tipping point to accepting the plea," La Pinta said at the time.
Correction: Ronald Bernardini pleaded guilty to a single charge of endangering the welfare of a child. An earlier version of this story misstated the number of charges and the charge itself.
Winter break is full of fun NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday Deputy Lifestyle Editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at activities to do with the family this winter break.
Winter break is full of fun NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday Deputy Lifestyle Editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at activities to do with the family this winter break.
