LANCASTER, Pa. — A Pequea Township man was sentenced Wednesday to 33 to 66 months in state prison for using his tractor-trailer to assault a fire police lieutenant who was directing traffic during a 2023 barn fire in Caernarvon Township.
Craig Robert Godfrey, 65, was convicted in September of felony aggravated assault by physical menace and misdemeanor reckless endangerment after a jury trial. The charges stemmed from a June 3, 2023, incident in which Godfrey, driving an 18-wheeler, repeatedly advanced his truck toward Fire Police Lt. Timothy Cunningham, who was blocking a closed road near the fire scene.
Prosecutors said Godfrey ignored Cunningham’s instructions to turn around and attempted to force his way through the closed roadway, escalating to the point where Cunningham had to physically push himself away from the moving truck to avoid being run over. A portion of the confrontation was captured on Godfrey’s dashboard camera.
First Assistant District Attorney Travis Anderson criticized Godfrey’s actions, stating, “He prioritized convenience over the safety of others and used his truck as a weapon.” Anderson added that first responders deserve the law’s full protection while performing their duties.
Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker, who sentenced Godfrey, rebuked him for blaming the victim in court, calling his remarks “offensive.” Reinaker emphasized the importance of obeying emergency personnel, saying, “We don’t get to override the instructions of someone in [the victim’s] position.”
The sentencing underscores the critical protections afforded to first responders who risk their safety to protect the public.
