Firebombing Suspect Finn Now Accused of Witness Tampering

SCRANTON, PA – Phillip Finn, Jr., 48, of Plains Township, Pennsylvania, is digging himself a deeper hole. Already facing serious federal charges for allegedly firebombing the Luzerne County Children and Youth Office building, Finn was hit with a second superseding indictment on May 14, 2019, accusing him of attempted witness tampering.

According to U.S. Attorney David J. Freed, the latest indictment alleges that on January 31, 2019, Finn actively tried to manipulate a witness, instructing them to lie to law enforcement about key events. The intent? To have the witness withhold crucial testimony during Finn’s upcoming trial. This isn’t just desperation; it’s a clear attempt to obstruct justice, and the feds are letting him know it.

The original indictment, returned July 11, 2017, paints a disturbing picture of a man obsessed with harassment. Finn is accused of stalking and relentlessly intimidating two employees of Luzerne County Children and Youth Services between March 3 and March 6, 2017. He allegedly used Facebook, Google, and his cell phone as weapons, unleashing a barrage of threats and intimidation tactics.

The charges didn’t stop there. On October 2, 2018, federal prosecutors added another count of Interstate Communications to the mix, and crucially, the charge of using fire to commit a felony – directly tying Finn to the alleged firebombing of the Children and Youth office. This wasn’t just a nuisance; it was a deliberate act of arson with potentially devastating consequences.

The investigation into Finn’s actions has been a joint effort, with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) leading the charge, supported by the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is handling the prosecution, and she’s building a case that could keep Finn behind bars for a very long time.

Let’s be clear: an indictment is not a conviction. Phillip Finn, Jr. is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, if convicted on all charges, he’s facing a potential life sentence, followed by a term of supervised release and hefty fines. The judge will consider a range of factors beyond the statutory maximum, but the message is clear – this is a serious situation, and the feds are prepared to come down hard.