Dec 15, 2023 2 min read

State police charged a Uniontown man Wednesday with multiple misdemeanors, including an allegation of filing a false report of child abuse against his ex-wife.

Matthew David Dowling, 39, is accused in court records of using legal means to harass both his ex-wife and her employer.

Dowling is former state representative for Pennsylvania’s 51st district. He did not seek reelection and resigned at the conclusion of his term in 2022 after he was charged with driving under the influence that summer.

According to the criminal complaint, Dowling is in the midst of divorce with Rebecca Dowling. In November he is accused of making eight reports to Fayette County’s Children and Youth Services alleging that Rebecca Dowling had their juvenile children living in “deplorable conditions.” Dowling apparently claimed her home was mold-infested and a fire risk.

Police said that all reports were investigated and determined to be unfounded.

According to the complaint, Dowling also targeted his ex-wife’s employer, Christian W. Klay Winery in Wharton Township.

The Klay family reported Dowling in October for making repeated false reports to multiple government agencies, court documents state, including the state Department of Agriculture and Wharton Township code enforcement.

Police said Dowling told a code enforcement officer that multiple homes the family owns were unsafe. He also allegedly had a constable deliver a subpoena to the winery during its busiest hours to disrupt business, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, Dowling texted another winery employee in August indicating he was attempting to have the Klay family “damaged very badly as far as I can legally.”

Dowling faces misdemeanor charges of false reports of child abuse, disorderly conduct and harassment. He has not been arraigned on the charges and a preliminary hearing has not been scheduled.