York, NY – A Livingston County man is facing multiple felony charges after investigators determined a residential fire in the Town of York was suspicious and allegedly linked the blaze to the homeowner.
According to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, deputies, along with fire and EMS personnel, responded at approximately 10:05 p.m. on July 29, 2026, to a reported structure fire on Barefoot Lane in the Town of York.
While responding, dispatchers received additional information that the homeowner had allegedly been seen leaving the area and fleeing into a nearby wooded area.
After firefighters extinguished the blaze, investigators determined the fire’s cause was suspicious, according to the sheriff’s office and fire investigators. Authorities identified the homeowner as Matthew McCracken, 42.
Sheriff’s Investigator Michael Wade arrested McCracken on Aug. 2, 2026, charging him with 19 counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and one count of third-degree arson, all felony offenses.
McCracken was transported to the Livingston County Jail for processing and arraignment. According to the sheriff’s office, he was arraigned before the Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part, where a judge ordered him held without bail because of what authorities said were two or more prior felony convictions.
The Livingston County Public Defender’s Office represented McCracken during the arraignment, while the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office appeared on behalf of the prosecution.
The charges are allegations, and McCracken is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
