Accused Ex-Fairfield RTM Member In Custody After Judge Increases Bond

FAIRFIELD, CT — A judge reportedly increased the bond of former Fairfield Representative Town Meeting member Ray Neuberger on Wednesday, after prosecutors said "disturbing" evidence was found during a search of Neuberger's cell phone.

Neuberger was in Bridgeport Superior Court in his first appearance to answer charges of threatening and harassing a Fairfield police detective, when Judge Maureen Dennis increased Neuberger's bond by $1 million, reported the Connecticut Post.

Additionally, prosecutors bumped up the second-degree harassment charge to first-degree harassment, which is a felony. He was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs; whether he will make the new bond was not known.

What was found on the cell phone was not disclosed, but it caused "extreme concern," Assistant State's Attorney Andres Bermudez-Hallstrom reportedly told Dennis.

Neuberger is accused of sending threatening text messages to an unnamed Fairfield police detective, who had investigated an animal cruelty case against him.

He was arrested on the animal cruelty charges in February, the second such charges for which Neuberger was arrested in less than a year, and he was then arrested this month on the threatening and harassment charges.

Neuberger was free on a $5,000 bond when he appeared in court Wednesday, until Dennis increased it by $1 million.

His next court date is March 31.

Read the Connecticut Post story.