HONESDALE, WAYNE COUNTY — A White Mills man now facing 17 criminal charges including rape of a child and incest was already on probation for abusing the same victim when he was arrested last month, court records show.

Matthew Tucci, 36, waived his preliminary hearing November 26 and awaits formal arraignment January 8 in Wayne County Court of Common Pleas on charges spanning seven first-degree felonies.

Tucci has been held in Wayne County Prison since his November 14 arraignment, unable to post $300,000 monetary bail. Public defender Debra Domenick is representing him.

The charges stem from allegations that Tucci sexually abused a young girl—now 13—beginning when she was 9 years old. The victim, who lives in Lackawanna County, told investigators at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Scranton that the abuse began “as a punishment” and that she initially believed it was normal, according to court documents.

A Pattern Exposed

What court records reveal is a cycle of abuse, incarceration, and reoffense spanning nearly two decades.

In December 2021, Carbondale City police arrested Tucci on felony child endangerment charges related to the same victim. He posted $75,000 unsecured bail and pleaded guilty in February 2022 before Lackawanna County Judge Michael J. Barrasse to reduced charges: first-degree misdemeanor endangering welfare of children and second-degree misdemeanor simple assault.

Barrasse sentenced Tucci in May 2022 to 9 to 23 months in prison followed by two years of probation. His supervision was transferred to Wayne County in April 2023 after his release.

According to the criminal complaint in the current case, the victim told investigators the sexual abuse stopped when Tucci went to prison in 2021—then resumed approximately four months after his release in 2022.

The abuse allegedly continued until November 8, 2025, when the victim was interviewed by authorities.

Court records confirm Tucci was making monthly payments on his probation supervision fees through November 2025—including a $50 payment on November 3, just 10 days before his arrest on the new charges.

17 Counts Filed

Wayne County Detective Bobby Joe A. Bendersky filed the criminal complaint November 13, charging Tucci with:

First-degree felonies:

• Rape forcible compulsion
• Rape of child
• Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with child
• IDSI person less than 16 years of age
• Statutory sexual assault (11 years older than victim)
• Unlawful contact with minor for sexual offenses
• Intimidation of witness/victim to refrain from reporting

Second-degree felonies:

• Sexual assault
• Aggravated indecent assault without consent
• Incest of minor (complainant under 13 years)
• Incest of minor (complainant 13-18 years)

Third-degree felonies:

• Corruption of minors
• Endangering welfare of children
• Indecent assault of person less than 13 years of age

Misdemeanors:

• Indecent assault without consent (M2)
• Indecent assault by forcible compulsion (M2)
• Indecent exposure (M1)

The incest charges—filed under both age categories—indicate the victim is a relative of the defendant.

The victim disclosed the abuse to family members last summer but told investigators that Tucci pressured her to recant, telling her family she had lied. When she resisted his advances, Tucci would say “Oh come on, I’ll give you some privileges,” according to court documents.

She also reported having bruises from the abuse.

Earlier Conviction

The current charges are not Tucci’s first involving sexual offenses against a minor.

In August 2007, Wayne County authorities arrested Tucci—then 18—on multiple charges. He pleaded guilty in June 2008 before Judge Raymond L. Hamill to:

• First-degree misdemeanor indecent assault by threat of forcible compulsion (9 to 18 months)
• First-degree misdemeanor corruption of minors (3 to 6 months)
• First-degree misdemeanor terroristic threats (6 to 12 months)
• Second-degree misdemeanor unsworn falsification (no further penalty)

A separate February 2008 arrest resulted in an additional simple assault conviction with 1 to 12 months imprisonment.

What’s Now?

Tucci waived his November 26 preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Jonathan J. Dunsinger and also filed notice of intent to waive his formal arraignment—a procedural step that sometimes signals plea negotiations.

The formal arraignment is scheduled for January 8, 2026 at 9 a.m. in the Wayne County Courthouse Historic Courtroom.

First-degree felony rape of a child and IDSI with a child each carry maximum sentences of 40 years in state prison under Pennsylvania law. Tucci faces potential consecutive sentences on multiple counts.

The Wayne County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting.

Case: Commonwealth v. Matthew Tucci, CP-64-CR-0000300-2025

Charges: 17 counts including rape of child, IDSI, incest, witness intimidation

Status: Awaiting formal arraignment January 8, 2026

Bail: $300,000 monetary (not posted); defendant in Wayne County Prison

Prior record: 2008 conviction for indecent assault/corruption of minors (Wayne County); 2022 conviction for child endangerment (Lackawanna County)

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