Elk River man accused of grooming sisters at daycare center

A 50-year-old Elk River, Minnesota, man is accused of grooming 6-year-old and 8-year-old sisters at an at-home daycare run by his wife while she was out voting. The charging documents say that while the younger children were down for a nap on Tuesday afternoon, Bryan Bernardson abused the two girls, tricking them by offering Skittle candy. He is charged with two counts of attempted criminal sexual conduct, two counts of grooming and one count of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct. The daycare center is under investigation and its license has been temporarily suspended. Bernardson is one of the first people charged in Minnesota with grooming, which was made a felony in Minnesota earlier this year. The legislation was introduced after a WCCO Investigative series where Hannah LoPresto shared what she calls the grooming and sexual assault by her high school band director. "It's extremely gratifying to see that the law actually at work, and obviously this person is innocent until proven guilty, but this is what it's for," said Rep. Peggy Bennett, who authored the bill. Neighbor Diane Smith say Bernardson and his wife have lived at the Elk River home for all seven years she has been in the neighborhood, and the daycare was bustling. Bernardson's wife told WCCO that her husband is "innocent until proven guilty." He is now free after posting a $300,000 bond. Information about grooming and child sexual assault, along with resources for survivors and tips for starting conversations about grooming at home can be found at the Zero Abuse Project . For more resources on sexual assault and grooming, click here . In: Minnesota Grooming Featured Local Savings