LOWER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — A Saucon Valley man was arrested Wednesday after a search warrant at his home uncovered methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, GHB, ecstasy, LSD, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, authorities said.
The Lower Saucon Township Police Department and the Northampton County Drug Task Force executed the warrant, which stemmed from an investigation initiated in August 2024 based on information from the Bethlehem City Police Department.
Robert Harry Thompson was charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, six counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Thompson was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Alan Mege and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $500,000 cash bail — an amount legal experts describe as unusually high for drug-related offenses.
“Many people stay in jail not because they’re dangerous, but because they can’t pay,” said Sarah Rose, deputy legal director for the ACLU of Pennsylvania. “We see people assigned cash bail in routine proceedings, often without a lawyer, and they just can’t get out. That can lead to job loss, housing instability, childcare disruptions — all while they await trial.”
Rose said Pennsylvania’s bail system varies widely, with magisterial district judges setting amounts that can be unaffordable, often in brief hearings where defendants lack legal representation. Thompson is being represented by a public defender.
According to Measures for Justice data, the average bail amount for defendants charged with a violent offense is about $5,000, while for drug offenses it averages around $3,000. The average bail for felony charges is roughly $10,000, with amounts of $500,000 or more typically reserved for crimes such as premeditated murder or child sexual assault.
In a recent Palmer Township case, a man known as the “Gruver bomber,” accused of possessing explosives and charged with one count of weapons of mass destruction, one count of possession of explosive or incendiary devices, and 10 counts of unlawfully possessing firearms, was granted bail of $50,000.
In August, Lehigh County Commissioner Zach Cole-Borghi was charged with possession with intent to distribute a pound of marijuana and posted $50,000 bail within hours, continuing his work as a public official.
“For people who can make bail, they can continue working if they’re not in jail,” Rose said. “But if you can’t pay, you’re in jail, and many lose their jobs. That’s where the collateral consequences come in — employment, housing, family responsibilities and more.”
The case against Thompson is ongoing. The district attorney’s office could not be reached for comment.
Authorities have not released additional information regarding the investigation or whether further arrests are expected. All inquiries were directed to the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office.
