LEBANON TOWNSHIP, PA – A Honesdale man with a 25-year criminal history—including two separate convictions for corruption of minors and a state prison term he completed less than two years ago—is back on the streets of Wayne County after posting $100,000 bail on kidnapping and torture charges.
Jason J. Van-Valkenburg, 49, walked out of Wayne County Prison on Wednesday, December 11, 2025, three days after his arraignment on 16 charges including first-degree felony kidnapping. Prosecutors say he beat his girlfriend with a shovel, fired a staple gun into her chest, and threatened to hang her in the basement of their Lebanon Township home.
His preliminary hearing has been pushed to Tuesday, December 31, 2025—New Year’s Eve—after his newly hired defense attorney requested a continuance.
Van-Valkenburg finished serving a one-to-five-year state prison sentence for felony drug dealing on Friday, March 24, 2023. The alleged kidnapping and torture occurred 20 months later.
Case Information:
- Defendant: Jason J. Van-Valkenburg, 49, of Honesdale, PA (DOB: July 26, 1976)
- Charges: Kidnapping to Inflict Injury/Terror (F1); Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon (F2, 2 counts); Unlawful Restraint (M1); False Imprisonment (M2); Simple Assault (M2, 8 counts); Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2, 3 counts)
- Offense Date: Thursday, December 4, 2025
- Next Court Appearance: Tuesday, December 31, 2025, 9:00 a.m.
- Court: Wayne County Central Court
- Judge: Magisterial District Judge Jonathan J. Dunsinger
- Defense Attorney: William L. Stephens Jr., Esq., Mack Law Offices, Kingston
- Prosecutor: Wayne County District Attorney’s Office
- Bail: $100,000 monetary – POSTED Wednesday, December 11, 2025
What Prosecutors Say Happened
The attack occurred at 2012 Great Bend Turnpike in Lebanon Township, about 15 miles northeast of Honesdale. On Thursday, December 4, 2025, Van-Valkenburg was driving victim Caitlin Merrigan to work in Lake Como when he refused to let her bring a cell phone, said “I need to get the truth out of you,” and turned around. When they got home, Merrigan tried to exit but Van-Valkenburg grabbed her hair and pulled her back, according to the complaint filed by Trooper Robi L. Wareham of PSP Honesdale. He shoved snow into her mouth until she couldn’t breathe, tore her shirt and forced the fabric into her mouth, punched her face, then forced her into the basement.
He ordered her to undress, grabbed a shovel, and struck her hand. He retrieved a staple gun and fired it into her chest demanding, “You gonna tell me the truth yet?” One staple penetrated—she removed it herself. He threatened to hang her. The attack ended around 2:30 p.m. Friday, December 5, 2025, when he threw her out and she flagged down a motorist. Trooper Wareham documented bruising to her face, hand, and hip, plus two puncture wounds on her chest. Merrigan said Van-Valkenburg had been using methamphetamine since October, triggering “severe paranoia.”
Criminal History in Wayne County
Van-Valkenburg’s Wayne County record dates to 1998 and includes multiple felony convictions and two separate cases involving the corruption of minors.
1998 – Corruption of Minors
Van-Valkenburg was convicted of corruption of minors, a first-degree misdemeanor, in Wayne County Court of Common Pleas. Attorney Robert N. Bryan represented him.
2009 – Drug Dealing, State Prison
Van-Valkenburg pleaded guilty to felony manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Judge Raymond L. Hamill sentenced him on Thursday, June 11, 2009, to 12 months to 5 years in state prison.
2014 – Theft, Criminal Mischief, Second Corruption of Minors
Van-Valkenburg pleaded guilty to theft by unlawful taking, criminal mischief, and a second count of corruption of minors. Judge Hamill sentenced him on Thursday, January 2, 2014, to 18 to 36 months on the corruption charge, plus consecutive time on the theft and mischief counts.
2020–2023 – Felony Drug Dealing, State Prison
Van-Valkenburg was arrested Friday, December 27, 2019, and charged with felony drug manufacturing/delivery. He pleaded guilty before Judge Janine Edwards on Tuesday, October 22, 2020. Edwards sentenced him on Thursday, December 3, 2020, to one to five years in state prison.
He was transported to state prison on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. Court records show his sentence was marked satisfied on Friday, March 24, 2023. His record also includes retail theft convictions from 2008 and a 2004 felony charge for disposing of an illegally obtained vehicle.
Hearing Continued
Van-Valkenburg’s preliminary hearing was originally scheduled for Tuesday, December 17, 2025, at Wayne County Central Court. Defense attorney William L. Stephens Jr. of Mack Law Offices in Kingston filed a continuance request on Monday, December 15, 2025.
MDJ Jonathan Dunsinger granted the request and rescheduled the hearing for Tuesday, December 31, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. The first-degree kidnapping charge carries up to 20 years in state prison. Each aggravated assault count carries up to 10 years.
Professional bondsman Serena Gerlinde Metschulat posted Van-Valkenburg’s $100,000 surety bond on Wednesday, December 11, 2025, securing his release from Wayne County Prison.
Current Case Status
- Docket Number: MJ-22304-CR-0000053-2025
- Incident Number: PA 2025-1510380
- OTN: K 1016085-0
- File Date: Friday, December 5, 2025
- Arraignment: Monday, December 8, 2025
- Status: Active – Awaiting Preliminary Hearing
Arresting Officer: Trooper Robi L. Wareham, PSP Honesdale
Incident Location: 2012 Great Bend Turnpike, Lebanon Township, Wayne County
Hotline: Victims’ Intervention Program of Wayne County: 1-800-698-4847
For more information, contact the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office at 570-253-4912.
All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. These charges represent accusations of a crime and do not constitute a determination of guilt.
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