A 30-year-old man from Reading who was employed as a social worker at Central Middle School is facing several charges, including corruption of minors, unlawful contact with a minor and indecent exposure, announced the Berks County District Attorney’s Office Thursday morning.
In January of 2025, the Berks County District Attorney’s Detectives received a Childline Referral from the Department of Human Services, Commonwealth of PA, which alleged that a school social worker employed by the Reading School District showed a 14-year-old student a picture of his genitalia. Based on the foregoing, a criminal investigation was initiated by the Berks County Detectives.
The criminal investigation revealed that in January of 2025, Brenden D. Lindsey was employed as a social worker at the Central Middle School, located at 215 N. 12th Street, Reading, PA. It was reported that the defendant utilized his mobile phone to show the victim a picture of his genitalia and he also asked her if she would send him a picture of her breasts. Based upon these allegations, the defendant was immediately placed on administrative leave by the school district.
The victim was forensically interviewed at the Berks County Children’s Alliance Center and disclosed that the defendant has been her school counselor for more than a year.
According to detectives, In January of 2025, the victim requested to speak with the defendant regarding a personal issue that she was experiencing. This meeting took place in the defendant’s office. During the meeting, the defendant began an inappropriate conversation with the victim. As a result of the conversation, the defendant showed the victim a picture of male genitalia. The defendant then asked the victim if she would show him a picture of her breasts. The victim declined this request and left the defendant’s office.
As part of the investigation, Berks County Detectives seized the defendant’s cellular telephone and obtained a search warrant to forensically examine this device. The phone was analyzed by the Berks County District Attorney’s Forensic Services Unit. As a result of the analysis, over one hundred pictures of exposed male genitalia were discovered, including pictures of the defendant exposing himself. Additionally, detectives say metadata from one of these photos revealed that the specific image in question was created, accessed, and/or modified on the exact date and time that the victim reported that this incident occurred.
On Thursday, February 27, 2025, the defendant surrendered to members of the Berks County Detectives. The defendant has been charged with Corruption of Minors, Unlawful Contact with a Minor and Indecent Exposure.
The defendant was transported to the Central Processing Center located at the Berks County Courthouse where he will be fingerprinted and photographed. No bail information is available at this time.
As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest occurred or a complaint has been filed is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
