Tucci still faces five first-degree felonies carrying up to 40 years each; remains jailed in Wayne County Prison on $300K bail
HONESDALE, WAYNE COUNTY — Wayne County prosecutors have narrowed the case against a White Mills man accused of sexually abusing his young relative for years while on probation for a prior conviction involving the same victim, filing formal charges last week that cut the original 17-count complaint to eight while retaining the most serious allegations.
Matthew Tucci, 36, now faces eight counts after the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office filed the criminal information on Monday, December 16, 2025, court records show. The move dismissed nine lesser and overlapping charges while keeping five first-degree felonies—each punishable by up to 40 years in state prison.
Tucci waived his formal arraignment, which had been scheduled for Wednesday, January 8, 2026, signaling possible plea negotiations. He has been held in Wayne County Prison since Thursday, November 14, 2025, unable to post $300,000 bail.
Charges Moving Forward
The DA’s office is proceeding on:
- Rape of a child (F1) — up to 40 years
- IDSI with a child (F1) — up to 40 years
- IDSI person less than 16 years (F1) — up to 40 years
- Statutory sexual assault, 11 years older (F1) — up to 20 years
- Intimidation of witness/victim (F1) — up to 20 years
- Incest of minor under 13 (F2) — up to 10 years
- Incest of minor 13-18 (F2) — up to 10 years
- Corruption of minors (F3) — up to 7 years
Dropped from the original complaint: rape by forcible compulsion, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, three counts of indecent assault, indecent exposure, unlawful contact with a minor, and endangering welfare of children.
The consolidation is typical in Pennsylvania sex crime prosecutions, where overlapping statutes often result in initial complaints that get streamlined before trial.
The Allegations
Wayne County Detective Bobby Joe Bendersky filed the criminal complaint on Thursday, November 13, 2025, after a 13-year-old girl disclosed years of abuse during an interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Scranton.
The victim, who lives in Lackawanna County, told investigators Tucci had been raping her since she was 9 years old. She described the abuse as beginning “as a punishment,” adding she initially believed it was something every child experienced.
The girl said the sexual abuse stopped when Tucci went to prison in 2021 on child endangerment charges involving her—then resumed approximately four months after his release in late 2022.
According to Wayne County court documents, the victim disclosed the abuse to family members last summer. But she told investigators Tucci pressured her to recant, telling her family she had lied. When she resisted his advances, she said, Tucci would tell her: “Oh come on, I’ll give you some privileges.” She reported having bruises from the abuse. The last incident allegedly occurred Saturday, November 8, 2025, at a residence in Texas Township, Wayne County.
A Pattern Dating to 2007
Wayne County court records reveal Tucci’s criminal history with minors stretches back 18 years.
August 2007 — Texas Township, Wayne County: Pennsylvania State Police arrested Tucci, then 18, on multiple charges. He pleaded guilty on Thursday, June 12, 2008, before Wayne County Judge Raymond L. Hamill to indecent assault by threat of forcible compulsion, corruption of minors, terroristic threats, and unsworn falsification. Hamill sentenced him to consecutive terms totaling 18 to 36 months.
That June 2008 sentencing order required Tucci to submit a DNA sample and pay $250 for the cost—standard protocol for sex offense convictions that trigger Megan’s Law registration.
February 2008 — Honesdale, Wayne County: While awaiting sentencing on the 2007 charges, Tucci was arrested again on simple assault. He pleaded guilty and received 1 to 12 months concurrent with his other sentences.
December 2021 — Carbondale, Lackawanna County: Carbondale City police arrested Tucci on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, on felony child endangerment charges involving the same victim in the current Wayne County case. He was held on $75,000 bail, later reduced to unsecured.
May 2022: Tucci pleaded guilty in Lackawanna County Court on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, before Judge Michael J. Barrasse to endangering welfare of children (M1) and simple assault (M2). Barrasse sentenced him to 9 to 23 months plus four years of consecutive probation, ordered parenting classes, and prohibited alcohol and drugs.
His supervision transferred to Wayne County in April 2023. Wayne County court records show he was making $50 monthly payments on his probation fees through November 2025—including a payment on Monday, November 3, 2025, ten days before his arrest on the current charges.
What Conviction Means
If convicted on the rape of a child or IDSI charges, Tucci faces mandatory lifetime registration as a sex offender under Pennsylvania’s version of Megan’s Law. The charges also carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years for offenses involving victims under 16.
Pennsylvania law provides that rape of a child—defined as sexual intercourse with a victim under 13—carries a maximum of 40 years imprisonment. IDSI with a child under 13 carries the same maximum. If serious bodily injury occurred, the maximum becomes life.
Public Defender Debra Domenick represents Tucci. Wayne County District Attorney A.G. Howell’s office is prosecuting.
Wayne County Case Status
Docket: CP-64-CR-0000300-2025, Wayne County Court of Common Pleas
Defendant: Matthew Tucci, 36, White Mills (Texas Township), Wayne County
Current charges: 8 counts including rape of child, IDSI, incest, witness intimidation
Status: Information filed Monday, December 16, 2025; formal arraignment waived; awaiting pretrial conference
Bail: $300,000 monetary, not posted
Custody: Wayne County Prison since Thursday, November 14, 2025
Prior record: 2008 indecent assault/corruption of minors conviction (Wayne County); 2022 child endangerment conviction (Lackawanna County)
The Pocono Review does not identify victims of sexual abuse.