News

Etowah man charged after Crimes Against Children squad serves warrant

Jared Michael Bernal

By Lightning Reports, Published: February 27, 2026

Henderson County deputies charged a 34-year-old man with numerous counts of child exploitation after the sheriff’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigators executed a search warrant at a residence in Etowah on Feb. 24.

Jared Michael Bernal was charged with five counts each of third-degree exploitation of a minor and second-degree exploitation of a minor and one count of felony secret peeping, for allegedly installing cameras in the female victim's bedroom and bathroom, according an arrest warrant. Bernal remained in jail at the Henderson County Detention Center on Friday.