Matthew Glenn Hawley, 47, faces up to 40 years in prison on first-degree felony; disorderly conduct charge withdrawn as prosecutors file more serious counts

LAKEVILLE, WAYNE COUNTY — Pennsylvania State Police have charged a Lakeville man with aggravated arson and five other offenses in connection with Saturday’s structure fire that destroyed a home in Sandy Shore and injured two volunteer firefighters when their tanker truck crashed on icy roads.

Matthew Glenn Hawley, 47, was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, after witnesses reported him causing disturbances and yelling at fire crews battling the blaze on Lone Oak Drive. That summary citation was withdrawn Sunday, Dec. 22, 2025, as prosecutors filed far more serious charges alleging Hawley intentionally set the fire.

The criminal complaint, filed Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, by Trooper Jason F. Mills of PSP Dunmore, charges Hawley with aggravated arson causing bodily injury—a first-degree felony that carries up to 40 years in state prison because firefighters were hurt.

The case is awaiting a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Bonnie L. Carney in Honesdale.

The charges

Hawley faces six counts stemming from the Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, fire in Paupack Township:

• Aggravated arson — bodily injury (18 Pa.C.S. § 3301(a.1)(1)(i)) — F1, up to 40 years
• Arson — intent to destroy unoccupied building (18 Pa.C.S. § 3301(c)(1)) — F2, up to 10 years
• Reckless burning or exploding (18 Pa.C.S. § 3301(d)(2)) — F3, up to 7 years
• Criminal mischief — damage property (18 Pa.C.S. § 3304(a)(5)) — F3, up to 7 years
• Failure to control or report dangerous fire (18 Pa.C.S. § 3301(e)(2)) — M1, up to 5 years
• Disorderly conduct — hazardous/physically offensive condition (18 Pa.C.S. § 5503(a)(4)) — M3, up to 1 year

Under Pennsylvania’s aggravated arson statute, a defendant can be sentenced to up to 40 years if the fire causes bodily injury to a firefighter, police officer, or other person actively engaged in fighting the fire.

The fire

The blaze broke out Saturday afternoon, Dec. 20, 2025, at a home on Lone Oak Drive in Sandy Shore, a private lakefront community on the north shore of Lake Wallenpaupack in Paupack Township.

By the time Lakeville Volunteer Fire Company arrived, the home was fully engulfed. The structure was a total loss. At least one vehicle parked nearby was also destroyed. The smoke column rose high enough to be visible for miles. Residents in Hawley and near Bridge Street in Seelyville reported seeing the plume from across Wayne County.

A dog believed to belong to the homeowners was found wandering loose on Lone Oak Drive.

Two firefighters injured in tanker crash

As crews from across Wayne County raced to the scene Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, a tanker truck from White Mills Volunteer Fire Department lost control on icy roads in Hawley. The driver and a passenger sustained injuries in the crash.

Those injuries appear to be the basis for the aggravated arson charge. Under Pennsylvania law, a person who intentionally starts a fire commits aggravated arson if the fire “recklessly places another person in danger of death or bodily injury, including but not limited to a firefighter, police officer or other person actively engaged in fighting the fire.”

Two cases, same incident number

Court records reveal two separate Wayne County cases tied to incident number PA 2025-1572628:

The withdrawn citation: Trooper Sean Munley of PSP Honesdale filed a summary disorderly conduct citation (MJ-22301-NT-0000361-2025) on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. Judge Carney withdrew that charge Monday, Dec. 22, 2025—the same day the felony complaint was filed.

The felony case: Trooper Jason F. Mills of PSP Dunmore filed the six-count criminal complaint (MJ-22301-CR-0000166-2025) on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. The case remains inactive pending a preliminary hearing.

Criminal history

Court records show Hawley has prior convictions in Wayne County:

Friday, Jan. 27, 2023 — Harassment: Hawley pleaded guilty Wednesday, June 14, 2023, to harassment—course of conduct with no legitimate purpose (18 Pa.C.S. § 2709(a)(3)), a summary offense. Trooper Nicholas M. Baton of PSP Honesdale filed the charge. Attorney Kurt Thomas Lynott of Brian J. Cali & Associates in Dunmore represented Hawley.

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 — Drug paraphernalia: Trooper Kelly L. Todd of PSP Honesdale filed a misdemeanor charge of use or possession of drug paraphernalia (35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(32)). Hawley waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday, July 19, 2023, and pleaded guilty Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, before Judge Janine Edwards in Wayne County Court of Common Pleas (CP-64-CR-0000227-2023).

Edwards sentenced Hawley to six months probation with conditions including drug and alcohol evaluation, random drug testing, and a $50 monthly supervision fee. He paid $1,090.25 in fines and costs. Wayne County Adult Probation terminated his supervision Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Attorney Ashley Grace Zimmerman of Zimmerman & Ohliger LLC in Milford represented Hawley.

Sunday, April 30, 2023 — Traffic violation: Hawley pleaded guilty Monday, July 24, 2023, to disregarding a traffic lane (75 Pa.C.S. § 3309(1)), a summary offense, in Paupack Township. Trooper Nathan Conway of PSP Honesdale filed the citation. Zimmerman represented Hawley.

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 — Driving unregistered vehicle: Moscow Borough Police Officer Martin A. Cieless cited Hawley for driving an unregistered vehicle (75 Pa.C.S. § 1301(a)) in Lackawanna County. That case (MJ-45302-TR-0002804-2025) remains active, awaiting plea before Magisterial District Judge Kipp Edward Adcock. Court records list a Stormville, N.Y., address for Hawley in that case.

DEFENDANT INFORMATION:

• Name: Matthew Glenn Hawley (also known as Matthew G. Hawley, Matthew Hawley)
• DOB: Thursday, April 6, 1978 (Age 47)
• Sex: Male
• Race: White
• Hair: Gray or partially gray
• Eyes: Brown
• Last Known Address: Lakeville, PA 18438

CASE INFORMATION (Felony Case):

• Docket: MJ-22301-CR-0000166-2025
• OTN: P 1016417-3
• Incident No.: PA 2025-1572628
• Complaint No.: R1BEBJ6098
• Court: MDJ 22-3-01 (Magisterial District Judge Bonnie L. Carney, Honesdale)
• Arresting Officer: Trooper Jason F. Mills, PSP Dunmore
• Arresting Agency: Pennsylvania State Police — Dunmore
• Filing Date: Monday, Dec. 22, 2025
• Offense Date: Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025
• Status: Inactive — Awaiting Preliminary Hearing

WITHDRAWN CASE:

• Docket: MJ-22301-NT-0000361-2025
• Charge: Disorderly conduct (S) — Withdrawn Monday, Dec. 22, 2025
• Arresting Officer: Trooper Sean Munley, PSP Honesdale
• Filing Date: Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025

PRIOR WAYNE COUNTY CASES:

• MJ-22301-NT-0000035-2023 — Harassment — Guilty plea Wednesday, June 14, 2023
• MJ-22301-CR-0000066-2023 / CP-64-CR-0000227-2023 — Drug paraphernalia (M) — Guilty plea Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023 — Probation completed Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024
• MJ-22301-TR-0000685-2023 — Disregard traffic lane (S) — Guilty plea Monday, July 24, 2023

PENDING LACKAWANNA COUNTY CASE:

• MJ-45302-TR-0002804-2025 — Driving unregistered vehicle (S) — Moscow Borough — Awaiting plea

TIMELINE:

• Thursday, April 6, 1978: Hawley born
• Friday, Jan. 27, 2023: Harassment offense in Paupack Township
• Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023: Drug paraphernalia offense in Paupack Township
• Sunday, April 30, 2023: Traffic violation in Paupack Township
• Wednesday, June 14, 2023: Pleads guilty to harassment before MDJ Carney in Honesdale
• Wednesday, July 19, 2023: Waives preliminary hearing on drug charge
• Monday, July 24, 2023: Pleads guilty to traffic violation
• Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023: Pleads guilty to drug paraphernalia in Wayne County Court of Common Pleas; sentenced to 6 months probation by Judge Edwards
• Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024: Wayne County Adult Probation terminates supervision
• Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025: Cited for driving unregistered vehicle in Moscow Borough, Lackawanna County
• Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025: Fire destroys home on Lone Oak Drive in Sandy Shore, Paupack Township; Hawley arrested for disorderly conduct; two White Mills firefighters injured in tanker crash
• Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025: Summary disorderly conduct citation filed by Trooper Munley of PSP Honesdale
• Monday, Dec. 22, 2025: Summary charge withdrawn by MDJ Carney; six-count felony complaint filed by Trooper Mills of PSP Dunmore

PROSECUTION:

• Wayne County District Attorney’s Office
• Wayne County Courthouse, 925 Court Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
• (570) 253-4912

DEFENSE: None listed

FIRE DEPARTMENTS:

• Lakeville Volunteer Fire Company — 10 Daniels Road, Lakeville, PA 18438 — Serving Paupack Township since 1979 — 25 volunteer firefighters — 34 square miles
• White Mills Volunteer Fire Department — 695 Texas Palmyra Highway, White Mills, PA 18473 — Serving Wayne County since 1910

LOCATIONS:

• Fire scene: Lone Oak Drive, Sandy Shore, Paupack Township, Wayne County
• Community: Sandy Shore — private lakefront community, ~200 property owners, north shore of Lake Wallenpaupack

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

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.