One of Thomas Robinson’s close friends and fellow brother of Delta Upsilon hid Robinson’s safe hours after his initial December 2024 arrest, according to testimony during the September 2 preliminary hearings.

Ryan Matson — a 2025 Penn State graduate — told the court that after Robinson’s arrest, he and another member of Delta Upsilon took one of Robinson’s safes 30 to 35 minutes north on Interstate 99 and dropped it off in the middle of the woods.

Matson said he covered the safe in “leaves and dirt and sticks” before turning around and returning to Penn State. Matson claimed this happened on December 13, 2024, the same day as Robinson’s initial arrest.

Matson allegedly hid the safe to protect Robinson, but was “freaking out” while doing so.

Robinson was arrested in 2024 after a confidential informant told State College police that he was selling large quantities of cocaine. The police used confidential informants to perform six controlled purchases of cocaine from Robinson before executing a search warrant on his room in the Delta Upsilon off-campus fraternity house.

Robinson had one of his safes in his room, which Detective Donald Paul said contained a firearm, marijuana, Adderall, cocaine, and large amounts of cash, during the preliminary hearings.

Robinson’s other safe was allegedly held in Matson’s apartment about a one-minute walk from the Delta Upsilon house, according to Matson.

The contents of the second safe, which Matson claimed not to have access to and had never seen, were not disclosed during the preliminary hearings. Matson did claim, however, that Robinson called him after Matson hid the safe in relief because it contained money.

Matson did not know the exact reason Robinson wanted to keep a safe in his apartment, but said he went with the defendant to buy it from Walmart in September 2024.

According to Matson, the safe was grey and approximately 12 inches tall, 30 inches wide, and 24 inches deep.

After Thomas Robinson discovered the safe was in the woods, Paul Robinson allegedly contacted Matson to retrieve it. Paul Robinson and Matson then allegedly went back to the location and retrieved the safe just a few days later.

The safe’s current whereabouts were not discussed during the hearing. Though Paul Robinson is facing a felony charge for hindering apprehension or prosecution by concealing or destroying evidence, as well as two misdemeanors.

All three charges were held for court following the preliminary hearings.