When a crime occurs, the Berks County District Attorney can use the power of the legal system to ensure that the victims of the crime are treated fairly. This office prosecutes criminal cases involving drunk driving, vehicle crimes, and vehicular homicide. Currently, five district attorneys are serving in the Berks County District Attorney’s Office. You can learn more about each one by reading about their experience.
Robert Dominiak
Berks County District Attorney Robert Dominiak is the newest member of the Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Office. He is a former prosecutor who is currently assigned to the Drug Unit. His prior experience includes prosecuting DUI and vehicle crime cases. He has also served in the DUI Unit. Dominiak has a strong background in civil litigation and is well-versed in a variety of criminal defense areas.
John Adams
As Berks County District Attorney, John Adams has announced murder charges against two men. The men are accused of killing Anthony DelCollo in Lower Alsace Township last October. Adams is the first candidate to announce his candidacy. If elected, Adams will serve a four-year term. His salary is $182,184 annually, set by the state. He also heads several community programs, including opioid crisis education initiatives.
The District Attorney is married with four daughters and resides in Cumru Township. His family has deep ties to Berks County. His wife, Dr. Betsy, is a retired Principal of Conrad Weiser High School. His brothers Russell and Faith Adams are both retired Berks County Juvenile Probation officers. Gar Adams is retired from a sailing boat in Honduras.
Robert Penetar
Attorney Robert Penetar was born in Reading, Pennsylvania. He attended Temple University and double majored in philosophy and psychology. While in college, he competed on the cross country and track and field teams. After graduating from college, he attended the University of Colorado Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor. From there, he served as a law clerk to two judges. Attorney Penetar joined the Berks County District Attorney’s Office in September 2016. Previously, he worked in the Violent Crime Unit, DUI Unit, and the Appellate Unit.
Attorney Gallogly
After graduating from Duquesne University, Attorney Gallogly earned his Master of Arts and law degrees from the University of Toledo College of Law. After gaining legal experience, he served as a volunteer attorney with the nonprofit Laurel Legal Services for two years. In February 2016, Attorney Gallogly was appointed as a law clerk to the Honorable Elizabeth A. Doyle of the Blair County Court of Common Pleas. He was hired by the Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office and later became the liaison to the Problem Solving Courts.
Attorney Thompson
Ken Thompson, Berks County District Attorney, was born March 14, 1966, in Philadelphia. His parents were William and Clara Delores Thompson. He attended public schools in the Bronx and served as a paper boy for several years. In his teenage years, he campaigned for former New York Governor Mario Cuomo. In the early 2000s, he worked as an intern at the office of Congressman Elliot Engel. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice.
After graduating from Moravian College, Mr. Thompson was a member of the National Criminal Justice Honor Society and the Criminal Justice Club. He went on to earn his law degree from Duquesne University School of Law in 1988. During his law career, he practiced civil law as an associate attorney before starting his practice. From 1995 to 2004, he served as a member of the Northampton County Conflicts Team. After completing his law school education, he joined the district attorney’s office in March 2004.
Attorney Lupacchino
As the District Attorney of Berks County, Pennsylvania, Attorney Lupackino is an accomplished criminal defense lawyer. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh and his law degree from Widener University School of Law. Before entering the District Attorney’s Office, he practiced criminal defense in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In 2010, he joined the office as a member of the DUI Unit. He was promoted to the chief prosecutor in 2013, and then to the Drug Unit. He subsequently returned to the DUI Unit as the chief prosecutor and was re-elected to the post in 2020.
Attorney Lupackino has extensive experience working in the legal field. She is a graduate of Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. She double-minored in Political Science and Criminal Justice. During her time at law school, Ms. Lupackino interned in the Office of the District Attorney’s Office in the summer of her 2L year and during her third year.