Hilltown Township Police. Photo by James Short.
The incident occurred in Silverdale Borough, Bucks County in September.
A Lansdale man is accused of causing more than $25,000 in “extreme” vandalism damage to the outside and inside of a Silverdale home last month and now faces several felony charges in the incident.
Samuel Joseph Gomes, 40, of the 30th block of East 5th St, Lansdale, was charged by Hilltown Township Police with felony counts of burglary of an overnight accommodation with no one present, criminal trespassing by breaking into a structure, criminal mischief in excess of $5,000, and criminal mischief by damaging property, according to court records.
On Sept. 15, at 5:04 p.m., Hilltown Police were dispatched to a home on the 100 block of West Main Street in Silverdale Borough, Bucks County for a report of vandalism, per the affidavit.
At 5:09 p.m., police met with two individuals who were at the home to perform work for the homeowner. Upon arrival, the two individuals found the outside of the house was covered in multiple colors of spray paint, police said.
The door to the home was ajar, and when they entered, they found the inside of the home in extreme disarray, police said.
“THe entire visible interior was covered in spray paint of various colors, walls, furniture, electronics,” police wrote in the affidavit. “Items were broken and thrown about the residence. They heard water running and discovered the first floor bathroom sink was running.”
Upon arrival of police, officers discovered both floors of the home were spray painted “in an extreme manner.” Walls, furniture, bathroom fixtures, and clothing were painted in multiple colors, police allege.
There was broken, vandalized furniture and musical instruments were strewn about, police said.
Clothing littered the property was spray painted, and glass was broken and dirt was thrown about the house, police said.
The house, per the homeowner, was being prepared for remodeling and painting.
Police estimated the property damage at more than $25,000, per the affidavit.
The homeowner told police she was residing in Lansdale Borough, and had an encounter with Gomes the day prior, police said.
Gomes allegedly attempted to force his way into the victim’s Lansdale home before noon on Sept. 14, police said. By the time police arrived, Gomes was gone, per the affidavit.
Prior to discovering the damage to the home, police said Gomes sent the victim a text that stated, “Found my work yet?”
While speaking with the victim, Gomes began texting them, police said.
Two neighbors near the Silverdale home told police Gomes and his 1998 white Chevrolet Astro van were at the home on Sept. 14 at noon, police said. Gomes, authorities allege, was loading up his van with items.
On Sept. 14, police received a phone call from a neighbor that he saw the exterior of the home spray painted at 4:30 p.m. Earlier in the day, at 11:30 a.m., the home was not vandalized, police said.
On Sept. 16, at 8:13 a.m., the victim received an email from Gomes, in which he allegedly admitted to the vandalism.
Police said the email stated, “I’m sorry for what I did to your house. I lost it. I should have just left and not felt the need to take out some childish anger on your home,” and was signed “Sam.”
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
