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Berks County District Attorney

PA Teen Sentenced To 45 Years To Life For Reading Murder Of NJ Woman: DA PA Teen Sentenced To 45 Years To Life For Reading Murder Of NJ Woman: DA
PA Teen Sentenced To 45 Years To Life For Reading Murder Of NJ Woman: DA A Reading teenager pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 45 years to life in prison for killing a 30-year-old New Jersey woman in 2023, Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams announced Thursday, Dec. 5. Henry Mendoza, 19, entered the plea before Berks County Common Pleas Judge Patrick T. Barrett for the shooting death of Natalie Classen, a Hoboken, NJ native recently living in Reading. The fatal shooting occurred at the intersection of 10th and Greenwich streets in the early morning hours of June 15, 2023, prosecutors said. Mendoza, then nine days shy of his 18t…
Family Releases Body Cam Footage Of PA Dad Of 6 Shot Dead By Police Family Releases Body Cam Footage Of PA Dad Of 6 Shot Dead By Police
Family Releases Body Cam Footage Of PA Dad Of 6 Shot Dead By Police Graphic body camera footage showing police shooting a Reading father of six dead has been released, and it appears to contradict the DA and police statements.  The family of 50-year-old Damon Scott Stern Sr., also known as DJ Nomad, along with their attorney held a press conference on Thursday, Sept. 19. During the conference they shared videos from the body cameras worn by the two officers called to Stern's home in the 400 block of Windsor Street, Reading at 3:37 a.m. on Monday, March 25. The Air Force Veteran was having suicidal thoughts and was holding a knife, according t…
PA Man's Spotted In Child Pornography, Authorities Say PA Man's Spotted In Child Pornography, Authorities Say
PA Man's Spotted In Child Pornography, Authorities Say A 28-year-old man from Reading has been charged with possession of child pornography after sexually explicit images were found on his cellphone, authorities said. Kristopher W. Tanner also was charged with criminal use of a communication facility, corruption of minors, and indecent assault, according to a joint release from the Reading police and Berks County District Attorney. He was identified by investigators who noticed the unique tattoo visible on his right forearm in some of the videos. Additionally, investigators recognized that the background in these digital videos appeared to…
Caretaker Steals $4.5K From Elderly Woman, Berks DA Alleges Caretaker Steals $4.5K From Elderly Woman, Berks DA Alleges
Caretaker Steals $4.5K From Elderly Woman, Berks DA Alleges A 46-year-old woman from Reading is charged with making more than 80 unauthorized purchases on the bank cards of an elderly woman whom she cared for, authorities said. Jennifer Konen is accused of stealing nearly $4,500 by making the transactions using a 78-year-old woman's banking information, according to the Berks County District Attorney. Konen was the woman's healthcare provider. In April, Berks County District Attorney’s detectives initiated a criminal investigation into allegations involving exploitation and fraud involving the senior citizen. It was reported that numerous&…
Fatal Police Shooting Of NJ Man Was 'Self-Defense,' Says Berks DA Fatal Police Shooting Of NJ Man Was 'Self-Defense,' Says Berks DA
Fatal Police Shooting Of NJ Man Was 'Self-Defense,' Says Berks DA No charges will be filed in connection with the killing of Vaughn T. Perkins, who was shot dead by a team of state and local police following a brief car chase in Berks County late last month.  Perkins, 53, was pointing a "long rifle" at officers and "failed to comply" with demands when police fatally shot him in Wyomissing on March 30, claimed Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams in a release.  "The officers and troopers involved were justified in employing deadly force (...) As a result, the officers and troopers will not be charged with any criminal offen…
Fentanyl, Cocaine Worth $4.3M Seized In Takedown Of Massive PA Drug Ring, DA Says Fentanyl, Cocaine Worth $4.3M Seized In Takedown Of Massive PA Drug Ring, DA Says
Fentanyl, Cocaine Worth $4.3M Seized In Takedown Of Massive PA Drug Ring, DA Says Nearly thirty people are facing criminal charges after authorities dismantled a "large-scale" operation that trafficked drugs from Mexico and Puerto Rico to Pennsylvania, with nearly $4.3 million worth of fentanyl and cocaine seized as evidence, authorities said. In an early-morning roundup on Thursday, Dec. 1, a total of 22 adults were taken into custody, said Berks District Attorney John T. Adams and Montgomery District Attorney Kevin R. Steele in a joint statement.  Posted by Berks County District Attorney on Thursday, December 1, 2022 Posted by Berks County District Attorney on T…
Inmates Among 8 Busted In Drug Smuggling Ring: Berks DA Inmates Among 8 Busted In Drug Smuggling Ring: Berks DA
Inmates Among 8 Busted In Drug Smuggling Ring: Berks DA Eight people including four inmates have been charged in connection with a drug-smuggling operation at the Berks County Jail, authorities have announced.  The arrests came after a months-long investigation uncovered a conspiracy between inmates and people outside the jail to smuggle in marijuana and Suboxone, an opioid withdrawal drug, said Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams. Investigators believe the incarcerated suspects — 41-year-old Brian Oliver, 30-year-old Bryan Williams, 32-year-old Thomas Reimert, and 38-year-old Andre Keyes — encouraged their contacts outsi…
PA Man Justified In Shooting, Killing Son Who Threatened Him With Knife, DA Says PA Man Justified In Shooting, Killing Son Who Threatened Him With Knife, DA Says
PA Man Justified In Shooting, Killing Son Who Threatened Him With Knife, DA Says A Pennsylvania man had no choice but to shoot his son who threatened him with a large knife, authorities in Berks County said. Alexis Martinez, 38, had been drinking when he threw a glass beer bottle at his dad and threatened him with a knife and another weapon inside a North Front Street home in Reading on Saturday, Aug. 13, Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said. During the confrontation, the unidentified dad took out his firearm and shot his son, who had a history of assaultive behavior and mental health issues, the DA said. Officers were called to the scene around 9:15 a.m. …
PA Man, 47, Sexually Assaults Girl On Her Birthday: Police PA Man, 47, Sexually Assaults Girl On Her Birthday: Police
PA Man, 47, Sexually Assaults Girl On Her Birthday: Police A 47-year-old Berks County man sexually assaulted a girl on her birthday, authorities said. Moises Rivera Jr. was arrested Tuesday by detectives who determined that he had assaulted the victim on or around her birthday in her bedroom at her family home in Reading in October 2019, according to a release from the Berks County District Attorney. Rivera was 45 years old at the time of the alleged assault. The victim identified Rivera as the perpetrator during a forensic interview at the Children’s Alliance Center on Dec. 6. Rivera was taken into custody at his home in Reading and charged with…
'Senseless Act Of Violence:' 2 Men Charged In Murder Of 28-Year-Old Berks Man Found At Park 'Senseless Act Of Violence:' 2 Men Charged In Murder Of 28-Year-Old Berks Man Found At Park
'Senseless Act Of Violence:' 2 Men Charged In Murder Of 28-Year-Old Berks Man Found At Park Two men are charged with the murder of a 28-year-old Berks County man over apparent drug debt, authorities said. William W. Smoot Jr., 47, and Joseph G. Lachina, 28, both of Exeter Township, have been charged with first, second, and third-degree murder, robbery, aggravated assault, and related charges, District Attorney John Adams and Central Berks Regional police chief Ray Serafin said at a press conference Thursday morning. Adams called the Oct. 25 killing of the victim, Anthony DelCollo, a "senseless act of violence." DA Adams, Central Berks Regional Police Chief Ray Serafin, and C…
Arrest Made In Deadly 2019 Berks County Home Invasion Arrest Made In Deadly 2019 Berks County Home Invasion
Arrest Made In Deadly 2019 Berks County Home Invasion Detectives have made an arrest two years after a Berks County man was killed in a home invasion, authorities announced. Jarren S. Walker, 33, was arrested at his job in Reading on Thursday and charged with murder, among other counts, they said. The arrest comes seven weeks after Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams and Wyomissing police chief John Phillips publicly announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. Last month, Berks County detectives received information from a witness who was told by Walker that [he] and another person went to Na'il …