A Clovis attorney facing a potential sentence of 80 years to life in prison agreed to a plea deal Wednesday after hearing testimony from one of his victims, who described years of alleged abuse during childhood visits to her grandparents’ home.
Robert Quinlan Bergstrom, 84, pleaded no contest to four felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a minor. Prosecutors agreed to drop four additional counts and the sentencing enhancements as part of the deal, which carries a 12-year prison term.
Bergstrom was arrested in 2024 and had been at the preliminary hearing stage of the criminal case. The hearing was intended to determine whether sufficient evidence existed for the case to proceed to trial.
Prosecutor Brian Exline had expected the preliminary hearing to last as long as two days. Instead, it ended in less than two hours after the first witness testified.
Granddaughter Describes Abuse During Family Visits
The prosecution’s first witness was Bergstrom’s 18-year-old granddaughter, who testified that the abuse began when she was approximately four or five years old.
Her name is being withheld to protect her privacy as a survivor of sexual assault.
According to her testimony, the incidents occurred during visits to her grandparents’ home for weekly Friday night dinners. She told the court that Bergstrom would ask her to play cards in another room.
During those games, she testified, he would rub her feet and gradually move his hands up her thighs toward her private area.
When the prosecutor asked whether she had ever told Bergstrom to stop, she answered, “no.”
The young woman also testified that Bergstrom warned her not to tell anyone what was happening. She said he threatened that she would no longer be allowed to visit and see her grandmother if she spoke about the abuse.
“I felt like I was going to get in trouble,” she told the court.
She did not disclose the alleged abuse until May 2024, when her mother asked her directly about what had happened.
The subsequent investigation and conversations among family members revealed at least three additional alleged victims, all of whom were also Bergstrom’s grandchildren, according to the information presented in the case.
Plea Agreement Reached During Preliminary Hearing
When the preliminary hearing resumed after a lunch break, Bergstrom’s attorney, Eric Schweitzer, informed the court that his client had agreed to a plea bargain.
Under the agreement, Bergstrom pleaded no contest to four felony counts. Prosecutor Brian Exline dismissed the remaining four counts and the sentencing enhancements.
A no-contest plea means a defendant does not contest the charges and is treated similarly to a guilty plea for purposes of the criminal case.
Judge Alvin Harrell confirmed that Bergstrom understood the consequences of changing his plea, including the agreed-upon 12-year prison sentence.
The judge also advised Bergstrom that he would be required to register as a sex offender. He further explained that if Bergstrom reoffended, he could face commitment to a state hospital as a sexually violent predator, subject to the applicable legal process.
“I understand,” Bergstrom told the judge.
The plea agreement brought the preliminary hearing to an end without the case proceeding to a jury trial on the original eight counts.
Sentencing Scheduled for December 11
Bergstrom’s formal sentencing is scheduled for December 11 in Department 74.
The case began moving through the courts after his 2024 arrest. The preliminary hearing was intended to establish whether the prosecution had enough evidence to proceed with a trial.
The testimony from Bergstrom’s granddaughter came shortly before the plea agreement was announced, marking a significant development in the case.
The sentencing hearing will determine the formal imposition of the agreed-upon prison term and any related legal requirements.
