A Reading man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in her residence early this year.
Berks County detectives on Friday charged Michael Sanchez, 31, of the first block of South Second Street with aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors and related counts.
Sanchez surrendered to deputy sheriffs in the county courthouse Friday and was taken to the central processing center. He was committed to Berks County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail to await a hearing following arraignment before District Judge Kyley L. Scott.
According to investigators:
The girl reported in late January that she was sexually abused by Sanchez about a week earlier.
In a forensic interview in February, she said she was in her room when Sanchez, who was acquainted with her family, entered her room and asked if she wanted any food to eat. She indicated she did not and he left.
He returned about 20 minutes later and started watching pornographic videos, including anime versions, on his smartphone, then started questioning her about sexual matters.
She got up to leave, but he grabbed her by the wrists, sat her on the bed and groped her.
She reported the incident to family members, who confronted Sanchez before he left the home.
The Berks County district attorney’s detectives began investigating after receiving referrals from the state Department of Human Services’ Childline portal.
The investigation determined the sexual abuse occurred in January of 2026 at a residence in Reading.