A Mulberry man was arrested by Lake Wales Police Department on January 23, 2025, and charged with Sexual Battery with a Firearm that allegedly occurred during a gang-related event at an unnamed location in Lake Wales.
The arresting officer was called to the scene in reference to a possible sexual battery on the day after the incident in question. The man arrested, identified Kristian Valentino Bernal, DOB 1/29/2004, is said to be the instigator of the crime.
According to the arrest affidavit, which is heavily redacted, Bernal texted the victim the prior day and indicated “…he (Bernal) wanted him(self) and his friends to have sexual intercourse with her.”
The victim said she continually stated via texts to Bernal that she was not interested in participating in that scenario and was only interested in him alone.
The affidavit states, “The messages from (Bernal) stated this needed to occur as it was the ‘protocol’ and mentioned it was for the gang.”
Bernal then went to and entered the apartment, where the victim stated she initially believed Bernal to be alone; however, “there were two other people with him, one of which she only knew as ‘No Face’”.
“No Face” and another unidentified individual are said to have entered the victim’s apartment behind Bernal wearing “ski style masks.”
Bernal is said to have asked the victim to shower and perform other tasks, to which she complied because “she was in fear he would harm her and stated he often has ‘rage fits.’”
The victim stated Bernal “removed a red bandana from his firearm and asked her if she wanted to wear it to feel more comfortable with what was happening and she stated ‘sure.’”, again stating she felt she needed to say yes to avoid harm.
Bernal blindfolded the victim and then began to have sexual intercourse with her. While Bernal was having sexual intercourse with the victim, she “felt additional hands touching her.”
After Bernal was finished with the victim, the male identified as “No Face” began having sexual intercourse with her. The affidavit states that he “choked her to the point of not being able to breathe,’ and she ultimately pushed him away, stopping the assault.
Bernal told the victim to go shower to which she again complied out of fear of being harmed. While in the shower, he “came into the bathroom and told her they were going to get ‘blunts’ and then left.”
The victim stated she spoke with Bernal’s ex the following day and told her of the incident. Shortly after, “She received a text message from (Bernal) stating no one raped her.”
Bernal was charged with Sex Battery with a Firearm.
Updated 2/20/25: a second suspect in this case has been arrested. Read the article with regard to that suspect below:
https://lakewalesdaily.com/2025/02/20/second-suspect-arrested-in-gang-related-sexual-assault/
