FELONY ARREST IN THE TOWN OF YORK

YORK - Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reports the arrest of a York resident on felony charges following an investigation by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.

On July 29^th, 2026 at approximately 10:05 pm, Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched, along with Fire and EMS to a residence on Barefoot Lane in the Town of York for the reported structure fire.  While in-route, it was further reported that the owner of the residence was seen leaving the area, fleeing into a nearby wooded area.

When Deputies arrived on scene, the fire was extinguished.  Upon checking the interior of the residence, it was found that the cause of the fire was suspicious in nature as determined by Fire Investigators.  The owner of the residence was identified as 42-year-old Matthew McCracken.

On August 2^nd, 2026 Sheriff’s Investigator Michael Wade arrested McCracken and charged him with nineteen counts of felony Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree and felony Arson in the Third Degree.

McCracken was transported and turned over to Central Booking Deputies at the Livingston County Jail for processing and pre-arraignment detention.  He was later arraigned at the Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part (LC-CAP) at the Livingston County Jail before Town of Nunda Justice Morris.  The Judge did remand McCracken to the Custody of the Sheriff without the possibility of bail due to him having two or more prior felony convictions.The Livingston County Public Defender’s Office was present and represented McCracken at the court arraignment for his defense. The Livingston County District Attorney’s Office was also present to represent the People.

Assisting with the investigation for the Sheriff’s Office were members of the Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division and the Forensic Identification Unit.  Also assisting was the Livingston County Office of Emergency Management.