Credit: Patrick Grego
A Gallatin man indicted on multiple felony firearms charges may have most of those counts reduced under a plea agreement offered Monday, Oct. 21, by Columbia County Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Botts.
David Passeri, 60, was arrested on March 27 after a Columbia County grand jury indicted him on 17 felony weapons charges stemming from a search of his residence earlier this year.
Under the proposed plea deal, Passeri would face a single count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C felony. If he accepts, he would serve five years in prison followed by three years of post-release supervision. Should he reject the deal, the case could proceed to trial.
“We are diligently prosecuting this case,” District Attorney Chris Liberati-Conant told the Herald. “We will provide more information when it becomes available.”
The case stems from a January search warrant executed by state police at Passeri’s home on Sigler Road, which, though in Gallatin, carries a Pine Plains mailing address.
During the search, authorities seized 15 illegal firearms, including two untraceable ghost guns — semi-automatic rifles without serial numbers — along with several magazines and boxes of ammunition. Prosecutors allege that the weapons were part of an illegal manufacturing operation.
On March 15, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Passeri with one count of first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and 15 counts of criminal possession of a firearm, all felonies. If convicted on all counts, Passeri could face up to 25 years in prison.
Passeri’s arrest followed years of complaints from neighbors about excessive gunfire on his property, a recurring issue raised at Gallatin Town Hall meetings.
While the plea deal would significantly reduce the charges, Passeri’s defense team has not yet indicated whether they will accept the offer. A court hearing is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 25.