HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced that a Schuylkill County man was found guilty by a jury of second-degree murder, burglary, criminal trespass and access device fraud.
Joshua Lukach, 22, of John Ohara St, Pottsville, PA was originally charged in August 2015 after the defendant admitted to breaking into the victim, John Brock’s home and stealing money from him during the morning of August 6, 2015. Lukach was also seen on surveillance video using the victim’s ATM card locally to withdraw $60 and scientific testing revealed the victim’s blood and Lukach’s DNA were found on gloves near the victim’s house.
A confession by Lukach’s co-defendant, Shavinskin Thomas, revealed that both defendants cut the victim with knives to make Brock tell Lukach and Thomas where his bank card was kept and gave his PIN number. After Lukach called the banks to verify the account information, Thomas slit the victim’s throat and the defendants left the victim to die.
“Our prosecutors and agents worked closely with the Pottsville Police Department to bring this defendant to justice today,” Attorney General Josh Shapiro said. “The family and friends of the victim have been waiting for today — we are pleased with the jury’s verdict for this violent offender.”
This case was referred to the Office of Attorney General by the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s office. The co-defendant, Shavinskin Thomas, was prosecuted by the District Attorney’s office.
Sentencing for Lukach has not yet been scheduled. This case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy Attorney General Kirsten Heine and Deputy Attorney General Philip McCarthy.
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