Samuel Joseph Gomes, 40, of East Fifth Street, Lansdale Borough (Credit: Hilltown Police)
A Lansdale man heads to Bucks County Common Pleas Court on felony arson and burglary charges, after waiving his preliminary hearing Tuesday, accused of being the culprit in an arson in Silverdale Borough last summer.
Samuel Joseph Gomes, 41, of the 30th block of East Fifth Street, is also awaiting sentencing in September in Bucks County court after pleading guilty in May 2025 to felony burglary, criminal trespassing and two criminal mischief charges from an arrest in Hilltown Township.
Furthermore, he is also awaiting a pre-trial hearing in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court in October on felony criminal trespassing and misdemeanor drug charges, stemming from a Sept. 8 2024 incident in Montgomery Township, according to court documents.
He was also charged in January by Plymouth Township Police with misdemeanor assault and theft, according to court records.
In almost all the cases, Gomes posted 10% of the required cash bail, according to court documents.
Gomes was arrested on June 6, 2025, following a year-long investigation into the blaze, which occurred on June 17, 2024, at about 10:54 p.m. at 158 West Main Street in Silverdale.
Responding officers arrived to find the shed fully engulfed in flames. The structure, which lacked electrical service and contained no flammable materials, was deemed a total loss, police said.
An investigation conducted by the Bucks County Fire Marshal determined the fire was intentionally set and classified the cause as incendiary.
Detectives with Hilltown Township Police Department led the follow-up investigation, which ultimately identified Gomes as the individual responsible, police said.
He is represented by private attorney Rory Driscole of Bethlehem.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
