A Lancaster County judge convicted a Providence Township man of threatening his neighbors with a large stick and attempting to set them on fire using a makeshift flamethrower following a single-day bench trial.

Judge Dennis Reinaker found Stanley Walden, 41, guilty on June 29 of making terroristic threats, possessing a prohibited offensive weapon, criminal mischief and simple assault. Reinaker sentenced Walden to up to 23 months in prison plus seven years of probation.

Walden used a lighter to ignite an aerosol can he aimed towards the one of the victims as if it were a flamethrower outside their residence, directly across the street from his own home in the first block of Park View Drive, in September 2024. The ignition created a three-foot flame that Walden began waving back and forth which could have burned one of the victims had they not moved out of the way. 

The incident occurred shortly after Walden, who had been carrying a large stick, backed the victims into a corner and began yelling at them, they told police. 

A third individual arrived and physically removed Walden from the victims’ home. Walden then began smashing a vehicle in the victims’ driveway, they told investigators. 

Audio of Walden damaging the vehicle was captured by the victims and shared with investigators. Police later found the vehicle’s rear window and sideview mirror had been damaged. 

After damaging the vehicle Walden briefly returned to his own residence, only to return moments later carrying a hammer and the aerosol can.

Earlier the same day Walden had threatened to burn down the victims’ residence multiple times and acted aggressively towards them during a verbal argument, they told police.

In addition to damaging the vehicle, Walden also damaged the victims’ ceiling fan and an outdoor surveillance camera.

As part of his sentence Walden is prohibited from contacting the victims and must stay at least 100 yards away from their residence.  

Assistant District Attorney Daniel Lingousky prosecuted the case.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Zachary Cianflone filed the charges.