LEBANON, Pa. – One day after he is arrested on an insurance fraud charge, Lebanon City Councilman Tony Matula hands in his resignation. Matula, 59 was charged on Monday by County Detectives for falsifying an accident report and then lying about it.
On June 28th, he reported to police that an unknown vehicle had hit his 2014 Volkswagen while it was parked on the 100th block of S. 9th Street. The next day, June 29th, Matula contacted the Lebanon City Police to tell them that a friend of his had moved his vehicle and struck a utility pole across the street, and that the friend had not told him about this before he made his original report to police.
On July 5, after their initial investigation indicated that Matula was lying about the accident, city police referred the case to the Lebanon County Detective Bureau.
Matula who spoke to FOX43 over the phone from his home said that he is making no excuses, takes full responsibility and apologizes to city residents for his actions. He said that he handed his letter of resignation to City Council Chairman Wiley Parker. City Council is expected to accept that resignation at it’s Wednesday meeting.
In the meantime, Matula says he will continue his work on the upcoming FOP Eagles Policeman’s Ball. Matula has been a council member since 2010 and is in the middle of his second four year term.
