Roy Robson, 36, of Ambler.
An Ambler man has pleaded guilty to calling in threats against the Septa Regional Rail line in Lansdale and later a district judge in Jenkintown.
Roy Robson, 36, pleaded guilty on Oct. 20 to felony and misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats, as well as two misdemeanor counts of simple assault and one count fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors that resolved five open cases spanning Jenkintown, Ambler, and Lansdale boroughs.
Lansdale Borough Police began investigating a bomb threat at the West Main Street Transportation Center on Nov. 7, 2022, just after 3 p.m., after Montgomery County Dispatch allegedly received a call from an unknown male — later identified as Robson — claiming he was on a northbound train to Lansdale with a bomb and he intended to blow the train up.
According to the criminal complaint, Robson told county dispatch "I am on the train from Fernrock approaching Lansdale, and I have a bomb and I’m going to blow the train up.”
As a result of the threat, all passengers were evacuated from the train as it arrived at the Lansdale Train Station. All other SEPTA trains with passengers on board were also taken out of service due to the threat, police said.
Investigators said they traced the call to a location in Upper Dublin Township, and upon hearing a recording of the 911 call, an officer with the Upper Dublin Police Department identified the voice as Robson and supplied Lansdale Police with an image of Robson for reference. Robson’s vehicle was then located at the North Hills Train Station, and police were provided a description of Robson’s clothing along with information showing he was likely a passenger on a train approaching the Pennbrook Train Station, according to charging documents.
At approximately 4:04 p.m., the train arrived at the Pennbrook Train Station, at which point police located Robson and took him into custody, the report states.
Following an extensive search of two trains — aided by members of the Montgomery County Bomb Squad, neighboring police canine units, and statements made by Robson — investigators ultimately determined there was no bomb on either train.
While being interviewed by investigators, Robson stated that he initially wanted to go to the hospital for a mental health issue, but his mother would not provide a ride and when he attempted to board a SEPTA train, the conductor denied him entry, police said. Robson said he became angry and called in the bomb threat, then stayed on location and boarded the next train, according to the complaint.
Robson stated he knew it was "not right,” but he was frustrated and was trying to get to the hospital, the report states.
Following his arraignment on the Lansdale charges, Robson was released on unsecured bail after being ordered to undergo a "level of care” assessment, which required either inpatient or outpatient mental health care.
Several months after the Lansdale incident, Robson was arrested again after he called in a threat to a district judge in Jenkintown.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Robson called in the threat into the local district court in Jenkintown Borough at 3:11 p.m. on Feb. 17. Police said Robson spoke to a female court clerk and said, "You are all n------s and I am going to kill you,” which prompted an evacuation of the building and the closure of the court for the rest of the day.
Robson was taken into custody several days later and taken to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash bail. Stipulations on Robson’s second bail required that, should bail be posted, Robson would have to avoid contact with members of the court and their families, as well as undergo another mental health assessment/level of care assessment and comply with level three monitoring.
Those stipulations became moot a week later, though, as Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Risa Ferman granted a request from prosecutors to revoke Robson’s bail on the charges in Lansdale Borough.
Robson remains in custody at the county jail while awaiting his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for Jan. 18, 2024, at 1 p.m. in front of Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Rogers.
Related:
Bail for Lansdale Bomb Threat Suspect Revoked After Calling in Threat to Office of District Judge
Lansdale Bomb Threat Suspect Claimed He Was Having Mental Health Issues, Court Documents Show
Suspect in Custody Following Bomb Threat on Septa Regional Rail Line in Lansdale
Police Investigating Bomb Threat Against SEPTA Regional Rail Line in Lansdale
