Lyons Man Indicted on Witness Tampering, Bribery Charges

Police Blotter
Mugshot of a balding, bearded man with blue eyes, wearing an orange shirt, against a plain blue background.
Matthew Hagar (photo: Wayne County Sheriff's Office)

A Lyons man already being held at the Wayne County Jail on separate charges is facing additional counts following a grand jury indictment related to alleged witness tampering.

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office reports that 37-year-old Matthew Hagar was arrested after a sealed indictment warrant was issued by Wayne County Court.

Authorities say the charges stem from an investigation into incidents that allegedly occurred between October 9 and November 18, 2025. During that time, Hagar—who was already incarcerated on related rape charges—is accused of using jail phone calls to coordinate efforts with others to bribe and threaten a victim.

The allegations were presented to a Wayne County Grand Jury, which handed down the indictment on March 31, 2026.

Hagar has been charged with attempted bribery of a witness, conspiracy to commit criminal solicitation in the fourth degree, criminal contempt in the second degree, conspiracy to commit tampering with a witness in the fourth degree, and criminal solicitation in the fifth degree.

He was arraigned in Wayne County Court on the new charges. A bail of $1 was set in this case, as Hagar remains held without bail on his prior pending charges at the Wayne County Jail.

The charges will be addressed in court at a later date.

The charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Police reports are automatically removed from this site after 90 days.

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