Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams
Berks County, PA
Joined July 2013
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Anyone with information about Michael Petrino’s murder should call @ReadingPolice1 at 610-655-6116 or @alertberks at 1-877-373-9913.
Cellphone data, surveillance video and license plate readers helped investigators identify eight suspects in the March abduction of Michael Petrino Jr., who authorities believe was killed shortly after being kidnapped in Reading. readingeagle.com/2026/10/26/…
Andrew Smith was sentenced today to 12-24 years in state prison for these offenses.
Andrew Smith was convicted by a jury today of Persons Not to Possess, Poss of F/A w/ Obliterated SN, RSP & Conspiracy. Smith is prohibited from possessing a gun due to prior convictions, including Involuntary Manslaughter for the death of @ReadingPolice1 Off. Mike Wise in 2004.
James Rice was sentenced today to 13.5-30 years in state prison, following his conviction by a jury last month of attempted murder and related offenses.
On Monday, October 26, 2026, at 11:30 a.m., DA Adams will hold a press conference in the Berks County Detectives Office to discuss the recent arrests in the homicides of Michael Petrino, Jr. and Leonardo Mercado-Gomez.
Man found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment in ‘negligent homicide’ shooting wfmz.com/news/area/berks/nor… via @69News
Join us on October 13th at @Sen_Pennycuick's Parental Awareness/Social Media Safety event at Boyertown Area HS.
James Rice was convicted by a jury this week of attempted murder. In October 2025, Rice went to a relative's house and stabbed the victim eight times. Sentencing scheduled for Oct. 23rd.
Case investigated by Cumru Twp. Det. Kolk and tried by ADA Colin Boyer.
Vincent Sanchez was convicted by a jury yesterday of 1st Degree Murder for July 2023 shooting of Ellis Garman, Sr. in Reading. Sanchez faces mandatory sentence of Life in Prison w/o Parole. Case investigated by @ReadingPolice1 CI Joshua Sheller. tried by ADAs Louviaux and Skayhan
Eucebio Hernandez-Serrano was convicted by a jury this week of Rape, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse with a Minor and related charges. Between 2009 and 2018, the defendant repeatedly raped a female juvenile in Reading. Sentencing deferred for a Sexual Offender Assessment.
Jonathan Sobkowiak was convicted by a jury last week of Neglect of a Care-Dependent Person, Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Adult, and theft related charges, after a week-long trial. His wife, Li Zheng, was also convicted of Neglect of a Care-Dependent Person.
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Between 2020 and 2022, Sobkowiak used his Power of Attorney for his 86-year-old mother to remove her from a nursing home and keep her isolated and malnourished in his basement. Sentencing is scheduled for October. Case investigated by @PAStatePolice Trooper Gresh.
DA Adams is asking the public and our law enforcement partners to share warnings of ongoing scams involving callers impersonating law enforcement and telling scam victims that they missed jury duty or failed to appear for court. More information at facebook.com/BerksDA
“Blue Envelope Program comes to Berks County, aims to help adults with autism communicate with police”
wfmz.com/news/area/berks/rea…
Solange White pleaded Guilty but Mentally Ill on Tuesday to 3rd Degree Murder for the June 2022 death of her 3 year old child. She was sentenced today to 16-40yrs in prison. Case was investigated by @ExeterPolice and Berks Co. Detectives; prosecuted by ADA Meg McCallum.
Christopher Owens was convicted by a jury yesterday of Burglary, Theft and related charges. On January 18th, Owens stole packages off a porch in the 1200bl of Perkiomen Ave, then entered a row home in the 1400bl to steal other property. Sentencing scheduled for 8/19.
Oxny Soto-Perez was convicted by a jury this week of Burglary and Terroristic Threats. In September 2025, Soto-Perez broke into his ex-girlfriend's home in Reading by climbing through a window, then threatened her and held a knife to her throat. Sentencing scheduled for 9/9.
Today is #WorldDayAgainstTraffickingInPersons. Our Victim/Witness Unit and Children’s Alliance Center hosted a Red Sand Project event in support of awareness. DA Adams was joined by the Berks County Human Trafficking Task Force members as well as Amy Sterner and Dr. Joseph Birli.
2/2 The @RedSandProject uses sidewalk spaces to create opportunities for people to question, connect, and act against vulnerabilities. The sand-filled cracks are a metaphor, representing the marginalized people who fall through the cracks and become vulnerable to traffickers.
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Check out more photos from the @RedSandProject event: facebook.com/share/r/1bfgva1…
DA Adams and other past presidents of @PennsylvaniaDAs gathered at this year’s annual summer meeting.
“Deeply honored to be part of this prestigious group.”
