Lansdale Man Charged With Holding Former Jailmate Against Will at Knifepoint

A Lansdale man headed to trial at the county court level on felony drug possession charges and misdemeanor driving violations was arrested for robbery and assault by Hatfield Township Police on Oct. 20 for allegedly knocking out the teeth of and holding at knifepoint a man he knew from jail inside the man's home.

Benjamin Thomas Moore, 40, is charged with 11 offenses:

• Felony Aggravated Assault
• Felony Robbery - Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury
• Two Misdemeanor Counts of Simple Assault
• Misdemeanor Recklessly Endangering Another Person
• Misdemeanor Terroristic Threats
• Misdemeanor Unlawful Restraint with Serious Bodily Injury
• Misdemeanor Unlawful Restraint with Involuntary Servitude
• Misdemeanor False Imprisonment
• Two counts of Possessing an Instrument of Crime

On Oct. 20 at 5:47 a.m., Hatfield Township Police responded to a reported robbery and assault on the 800 block of Bethlehem Pike in Colmar, Hatfield Township.

Police said the victim had returned home the prior evening and, upon entering his home, was allegedly confronted by Moore.

Police said Moore had been a previous resident of the property prior to going to jail.

Police said Moore was angry with the victim, who had used some of Moore's belongings while Moore was in jail.

The victim told police Moore allegedly punched him several times, knocking out his front teeth, police said.

Moore allegedly held the victim against his will at knifepoint, and threatened the man for the remainder of the night, police said. Moore allegedly refused to allow the victim to leave his home, police said.

During the course of the evening, Moore allegedly robbed the victim of his wallet and threatened to kill him, police said.

The victim told police he was held all night, and was finally able to escape through a back door when Moore went to the bathroom, police said. 

Hatfield Police found Moore inside the victim's home and arrested him, police said.

Moore was arraigned by District Judge Patricia Zaffarano, who set bail at $100,000 cash, police said. Moore remains incarcerated at Montgomery County prison as of Thursday in lieu of bail, police said.

A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 26 at 11 a.m. before District Judge Andrea Duffy. 

Moore is headed toward trial on felony drug possession charges with intent to distribute, as well as misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, furnishing drug-free urine - use or attempt, and adulteration or misbranding of a controlled substance, all from an August 2011 arrest in Upper Moreland, according to court records.

Moore is also headed toward trial on misdemeanor Pennsylvania vehicle offenses, including illegal operation of a vehicle without an ignition interlock, driving a vehicle that is not registered, driving a vehicle with suspended registration and driving a vehicle without insurance, according to court records.

Moore has had 11 criminal cases tried at the county court level since January 1991, according to court records.