A city man accused of drug trafficking saw his bail raised and all charges against him bound to the Blair County Court of Common Pleas following a contentious preliminary hearing Wednesday.

Raymond Moore, 43, is facing single felony counts of possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communication facility, as well as single misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

During central court, Moore’s court-appointed attorney Robert Donaldson questioned Logan Township Police Officer Justin Hollern on why charges were just now being filed against his client when the alleged incident occurred in June 2024.

Hollern said Moore agreed to cooperate with investigators as a confidential informant following the incident.

“(Moore) was signed up to be an informant, but then we kept not being able to get into contact with him,” Hollern said. “We had to file charges because he wasn’t doing anything.”

Hollern was the only witness called to testify during the proceedings and said officers were looking into Moore while investigating another drug dealer Moore was thought to be living with. Through the investigation, officers uncovered evidence that Moore was staying at the dealer’s residence for an “extended period of time” and selling a “substantial amount of paraphernalia” including “various forms of narcotics.”

Hollern said Moore was not present at the time the residence was searched but was found at a nearby gambling establishment. When Moore was searched incident to arrest, Hollern said two pink capsules containing suspected crack cocaine, glass packets containing confirmed fentanyl

and xylazine, as well as marijuana, were located on Moore’s person.

Robertson questioned how Moore was brought to officers’ attention when Hollern said they were investigating a different drug dealer. He asked if Moore’s name was on any of the warrants for searches that took place that day, to which Hollern said no.

Hollern said Moore’s name came up during their investigation into the other dealer and his involvement and living situation was evidenced by witness statements and documents found within the residence.

“The documents found in (Moore’s) room…showed more than an overnight stay,” Hollern said.

During Robertson’s cross examination of Hollern, Moore became increasingly frustrated with his line of questioning. He interrupted Robertson to tell him “if you won’t ask (my questions), I’ll ask them myself.”

“He’s sitting up there lying, violating my rights,” Moore said.

The hearing quickly resumed, with Robertson asking presiding Magisterial District Judge Benjamin F. Jones to dismiss the felony charges against Moore. He said the amount of drugs found on Moore were for personal use, not delivery.

Blair County Assistant District Attorney Nick Mays asked for all charges to be bound to court, saying Moore was “still holding drugs in a public place” which was in line with delivery. He said Moore had also allowed officers to search his cellphone, which turned up numerous conversations arranging drug transactions.

Jones ultimately agreed with Mays and sent the charges to the court of common pleas.

Robertson immediately moved for a bail modification, asking Jones to change Moore’s $50,000 secured bail to unsecured.

Mays countered, saying, if anything, he would request an increase.

“I vehemently object to any increase in bail,” Robertson said.

Mays then told Jones that Moore had “three pages” of prior charges out of New Jersey, including intimidation of a witness, fugitive from justice, firearm possession and possession with intent to deliver.

Jones said he hadn’t been able to see the New Jersey charges and was unaware of them. Looking at Moore’s docket, he said Magisterial District Judge Matthew Dunio had been the one to set Moore’s initial bail.

“I’m increasing bail to $100,000 due to the extensive criminal record of Mr. Moore,” Jones said.

Following the conclusion of the hearing, Moore again became belligerent, calling Hollern a “f***ing f****t” and telling him to “suck my d***” as Hollern left the courtroom. He then began berating and cussing at Robertson until Jones had Moore removed and taken back to the Blair County Prison.

Moore’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 8.