A Schuylkill County man will spend at least the next two decades in state prison after he was sentenced Friday afternoon for his assaults on a downtown Pottsville business employee last year.
Matthew Bailey was mostly emotionless and offered little in the way of remorse before Schuylkill County Judge Christina Hale inside Courtroom 5 as she sentenced him to 21½ to 43 years behind bars.
“You just don’t get it,” Hale told Bailey. “The community is concerned about you being a danger and threat to society. I don’t know if you can be rehabilitated.”
Bailey, 37, of Pottsville but formerly from Philadelphia, agreed to plead guilty in two separate cases back in June, just before he was set to face a Schuylkill County jury. On Sept. 26, 2025, Bailey approached a cook in an alley outside Eagle Tavern on E. Norwegian St. and pulled a gun on him.
As the victim attempted to flee, Bailey struck him in the back of the head with what the victim called a metal object, causing a large “goonie” to form. The next night, police in Pottsville were called to the same area for a reported armed robbery. Again, it was Bailey – wearing a mask – who brandished a handgun at the victim and stole his wallet.
A loaded firearm with an obliterated serial number was found at Bailey’s W. Market St. residence when he was apprehended there following the second incident.
Bailey’s extensive criminal history – including several charges involving a weapon in Philadelphia – disallowed him from possessing a gun.
Hale’s sentence was influenced by arguments made by Assistant District Attorney Andrew Bench on Friday, who labeled Bailey as “recalcitrant” and “intransigent” prior to the judge’s ruling.
“His criminal history is shocking,” he said. “He has a problem with firearms, your honor. There’s an anger that’s unresolved. He’s not someone who should be among the general population. He’s someone that can’t place himself in the normal society that we have created.”
Hale agreed and was further convinced a stiff sentence was necessary after Bailey was given a chance to apologize or show remorse before the court, despite the victim not appearing for Friday’s hearing.
The only offer of an apology came when he told his attorney, Andrea Thompson, to say that if the victim were in the court Friday, “He would apologize and say he’s sorry.”
Later, as Hale was reviewing the facts of the cases, Bailey did raise a finger in an attempt to counter the judge but she quickly shut that down and said, “You had your chance to speak.
“Normally people tell me they’re remorseful,” Hale said. “We have to incapacitate you.”
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Scoob
August 30, 2026 at 1:04 am
Doesn’t matter if you’re remorseful. I’m just glad this area is maxing the penalties to these thugs who come from the cities. They make our communities look like the ghetto the came from