A 62-year-old with a criminal past was caught with crystal meth Wednesday when state parole officers stopped by his Earl Township home for a random search, authorities said.

George William Howe, a longtime New Holland-area resident with convictions dating to the 1970s, was in Lancaster County Prison late Wednesday, officials said.

District Judge Rodney Hartman set bail at $250,000 citing Howe's extensive criminal history, which includes at least five felony convictions, he said.

Howe is a former member of a New Holland-area motorcycle gang involved in drug peddling in the 1980s, investigators said. He served prison time in the 1980s in connection with crimes related to the motorcycle gang, officials said.

He was on state parole after a recent prison release when the three officers visited his West Main Street home about 2 p.m. Wednesday.

State parole officers said they found five bags of crystal meth and a large amount of cash in Howe's bedroom. They said they also found a scale and a razor blade.

New Holland police were called to the home and later charged Howe with two drug offenses.

In 2003, officials said, state parole officers found 3 pounds of marijuana at Howe's home during a random drop-in like Wednesday's.

Officials said Howe's criminal record also includes prior arrests and convictions for aggravated assault (two), burglary, escaping police, reckless endangerment, simple assault, driving under the influence and drug offenses.

E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com