Fingerprint Helps ID Man Accused Of Raping Teen Girl Walking To School In Reading

A fingerprint was key in identifying and arresting a man who is now charged with the rape of a teenage girl at knifepoint in Reading, authorities said.

Sean Samuels
Photo Credit: *Reading Police Department*

Nicole Acosta

03/23/2022 11:52 a.m.

The 14-year-old girl told police that she was walking to school on the 1200 block of Hill Road when she was abducted, taken to another location, and sexually assaulted twice, around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 16, Reading Police Chief Richard Tornielli said.

Thanks in part to a fingerprint, police identified the suspect as 38-year-old Sean Samuels, of Auburn, the chief said. DNA evidence is still pending.

He was arrested on Tuesday, March 22 in Hamburg, police said.

Samuels was charged with a probation violation and the following offenses:

Rape Threat Of Forcible Compulsion
Agg. Ind. Assault - Comp. Less Than 16
Agg. Ind. Assault - Threat of Forcible Compulsion
Poss Instrument Of Crime W/Int
Terroristic Threats W/ Int To Terrorize Another
Simple Assault

Samuels was remanded to the Berks County Jail after failing to post $1 million bail, records show. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, April 8.

The chief noted that there is no current danger to the public.

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