NAZARETH, Pa. — Sammy Sasso, a former Nazareth Area High School and Ohio State University champion wrestler, is accused of carrying unlicensed guns and a controlled substance during a traffic stop in Nazareth.
Sasso, 25, of Upper Nazareth Township, was charged Wednesday with four counts of firearms not to be carried without a license, one count of possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia as well as a summary violation.
Sasso appeared for preliminary arraignment before a District Judge John C. Capobianco. He was committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $35,000 bail, according to the Northampton County District Attorney's Office.
A family member posted bail Thursday, court records show. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 30.
Nazareth police said around 7 p.m. Wednesday they stopped a 2012 black Lexus four-door vehicle with an Ohio license plate and a registration that expired in April.
Sammy Sasso is among the more decorated and accomplished wrestlers ever to come from the Lehigh Valley. Last month, Lehigh University announced it had hired Sasso as an assistant wrestling coach.
During the stop at Route 248 and Georgetown Road, police discovered Sasso had an unlicensed loaded handgun — a Beretta 40-caliber, semi-automatic — in the driver's side-door pocket, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Ohio State backpack in trunk
Officers noticed a red Ohio State University backpack in the trunk and asked Sasso if it was his, police said. Sasso said it was but he allegedly would not give consent to search it.
While police waited to secure a warrant to search the vehicle, Sasso told a police sergeant more guns were in the bag, according to the affidavit.
A search upon getting the warrant yielded three additional firearms — each of them also semi-automatic weapons, police said. They included a 9mm handgun, a .380-caliber handgun and a .40-caliber handgun.
Police also discovered suspected THC vape cartridges that they said were not obtained through a valid prescription.
As Sasso was exiting the vehicle, according to police, an officer detected a strong odor of marijuana. He then saw what appeared to be packaging from a marijuana dispensary on the rear seat of the vehicle.
Police said they also observed a separate canister that contained remnants of a green leafy substance.
Sasso told police he does not have a valid Pennsylvania medical marijuana card, the affidavit said.
A wrestling champion
Sasso is among the more decorated and accomplished wrestlers ever to come from the Lehigh Valley. Last month, Lehigh University announced it had hired Sasso as an assistant wrestling coach.
At Nazareth Area High School, he was a two-time PIAA state champion and also placed second and third. He went 180-11 over four years at Nazareth.
As a high school standout, he also won championships at the prestigious Ironman, Super 32, Beast of the East and FloWrestling national tournaments.
At Ohio State, Sasso was a four-time All-American, two-time NCAA finalist and two-time Big Ten champion. He finished his college career with a 106-19 record.
Sasso missed the 2023-24 wrestling season after being shot in the abdomen during a reported carjacking in August 2023 near Ohio State University.
