Van Valkenburg turned himself in after bench warrant issued Tuesday; faces 16 charges including first-degree kidnapping in Lebanon Township assault

HONESDALE, WAYNE COUNTY — The Honesdale man accused of torturing his girlfriend with a shovel and staple gun surrendered to authorities after a bench warrant was issued when he failed to appear for a bail revocation hearing Tuesday afternoon.

Jason J. Van Valkenburg, 49, was a no-show at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 23, 2025, before Magisterial District Judge Jonathan J. Dunsinger. The judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest. Van Valkenburg later turned himself in. His preliminary hearing remains scheduled for Tuesday, December 31, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at Wayne County Central Court.

Van Valkenburg posted $100,000 bail on December 11 — just three days after his arraignment — through professional bondsman Serena Gerlinde Metschulat. He had been free for 12 days when he missed Tuesday’s hearing.

The Charges

PSP Honesdale Trooper Robi L. Wareham charged Van Valkenburg with 16 counts stemming from an incident at 2012 Great Bend Turnpike in Lebanon Township on December 4, 2025:

• Kidnapping to Inflict Injury/Terror (F1) — up to 20 years
• Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon (F2) — 2 counts
• Unlawful Restraint/Involuntary Servitude (M1)
• False Imprisonment (M2)
• Simple Assault (M2) — 8 counts
• Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2) — 3 counts

Prosecutors say Van Valkenburg beat his girlfriend with a shovel, fired a staple gun into her chest, and threatened to hang her in the basement. The victim told investigators Van Valkenburg had been using methamphetamine since October, triggering “severe paranoia.”

25 Years of Wayne County Convictions

Van Valkenburg’s criminal record in Wayne County dates to 1998 and includes two separate corruption of minors convictions, two felony drug dealing cases that sent him to state prison, retail theft, and vehicle-related felonies.

He completed a one-to-five-year state prison sentence for felony drug manufacturing and delivery on March 24, 2023. The alleged kidnapping and torture occurred 20 months later.

Court records show seven prior Wayne County criminal cases:

• 1998: Corruption of minors (M1) — guilty plea
• 2004: Dispose of vehicle altered/illegally obtained (F3) — guilty plea
• 2004: Firearm ownership violation (M2) — nolle prossed
• 2008: Retail theft (M1) — guilty plea, 2-24 months
• 2008: Retail theft (M1) — no further penalty
• 2009: Manufacturing/delivery of controlled substance (F) — guilty plea, 12 months to 5 years state prison
• 2013: Theft, criminal mischief, corruption of minors (second conviction) — guilty plea, 18-36 months on corruption charge
• 2019: Manufacturing/delivery of controlled substance (F) — guilty plea, 1-5 years state prison, completed March 2023

Private attorney William L. Stephens Jr. of Mack Law Offices in Kingston represents Van Valkenburg. The Wayne County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting.

DEFENDANT INFORMATION:

• Name: Jason J. Van Valkenburg (aliases: Jason Jon Vanvalkenburg, Jason J. Van-Valkenburg)
• DOB: July 26, 1976 (Age 49)
• Sex: Male
• Race: White
• Hair: Brown
• Eyes: Hazel
• Last Known Address: Honesdale, PA 18431

CASE INFORMATION:

• Docket: MJ-22304-CR-0000053-2025
• OTN: K 1016085-0
• Incident: PA 2025-1510380
• Court: MDJ 22-3-04
• Judge: Jonathan J. Dunsinger
• Status: Active — Awaiting Preliminary Hearing

PRIOR WAYNE COUNTY CASES:

• CP-64-CR-0000053-1998 — Corruption of Minors — Closed
• CP-64-CR-0000469-2004 — Dispose of Vehicle — Closed
• CP-64-CR-0000470-2004 — Firearm Ownership — Nolle Prossed
• CP-64-CR-0000622-2008 — Retail Theft — Closed
• CP-64-CR-0000627-2008 — Retail Theft — Closed
• CP-64-CR-0000001-2009 — Drug Manufacturing/Delivery — Closed (State Prison)
• CP-64-CR-0000317-2013 — Theft/Mischief/Corruption of Minors — Closed
• CP-64-CR-0000405-2019 — Drug Manufacturing/Delivery — Closed (State Prison)

TIMELINE:

• December 4, 2025: Alleged kidnapping and torture at Lebanon Township residence
• December 5, 2025: Criminal complaint filed by Trooper Wareham
• December 8, 2025: Preliminary arraignment; $100,000 bail set; committed to Wayne County Prison
• December 11, 2025: Posted $100,000 bail; released from Wayne County Prison
• December 15, 2025: Defense continuance request filed
• December 17, 2025: Original preliminary hearing date — continued
• December 23, 2025, 1:30 p.m.: Bail revocation hearing — failed to appear; bench warrant issued
• December 23, 2025: Surrendered to authorities
• December 31, 2025, 9:00 a.m.: Preliminary hearing scheduled

BAIL: $100,000 monetary — Posted December 11, 2025

ATTORNEYS:

• Prosecution: Wayne County District Attorney’s Office, 925 Court Street, Honesdale, PA 18431 — 570-253-4912
• Defense: William L. Stephens Jr., Esq., Mack Law Offices, 281 Pierce St 1st Fl, Kingston, PA 18704 — 570-287-1388

ARRESTING AGENCY: Pennsylvania State Police — Honesdale (Trooper Robi L. Wareham)

INCIDENT LOCATION: 2012 Great Bend Turnpike, Lebanon Township, Wayne County

RESOURCE: Victims’ Intervention Program of Wayne County: 1-800-698-4847

Van Valkenburg is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.