Former state rep pleads no contest to disorderly conduct
Editors note: This story was updated to reflect that the harassment charge initially filed against Matthew David Dowling was withdrawn.
A former state lawmaker pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct on Monday in Fayette County Court.
Matthew David Dowling, 40, of Uniontown was accused of making eight reports to Fayette County’s Children and Youth Services alleging that his ex-wife had their children living in poor conditions. Police said that all reports were investigated and determined to be unfounded.
Dowling was initially charged with false reports of child abuse and and harassment, but those charges were withdrawn.
Accepting a no contest plea means that Dowling will not contest the charges lodged against him. For the purposes of sentencing, however, it’s treated the same as a guilty plea.
Dowling is former state representative for Pennsylvania’s 51st District. He resigned at the conclusion of his term in 2022 after he was charged with driving under the influence that summer.
His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March in front of Judge Linda Cordaro.