Toppenish Teacher Sought on Sexual Misconduct Charges

According to Yakima County Crime Stoppers, a search is on for a Toppenish School teacher on sexual misconduct charges.

  Teacher accused of multiple incidents with students, some underage

40-year-old Bertha Adriana Cerna is accused of sexual misconduct that occurred between January 2020 and June of 2021.

Cerna, according to additional information published by KVEW TV, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a male student when he was 17. He told investigators she visited his apartment two days before his graduation in 2020, she became flirty and eventually drove them to a baseball field where they had sex in his car.

He also claimed she offered him what he believed was cocaine during their first encounter, and she persuaded him to have a second sexual encounter before he turned 18.

   Investigators talk to other students

Another student whom KVEW says was a former student and cheerleader at Toppenish High School, told authorities Berna, who was her former coach, provided her with alcohol on multiple occasions. This student was the one who told investigators about the alleged sexual encounters with the male student.

The charges she is facing, according to KVEW TV, include  Sexual Misconduct with a Minor and Furnishing Liquor to Minors.

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Anyone who may have information about her whereabouts, you can submit a tip to Yakima Crime Stoppers by clicking here.