Court proceedings in the felony weapons case against Gallatin man David Passeri will resume on June 23 following a court-ordered pre-plea investigation.
At a conference in Columbia County Court on Monday, May 5, County Court Judge Michael Howard, Chief Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Botts, and defense attorney Thomas DiPietro met privately in chambers before returning to open court. All parties agreed to initiate the investigation.
A pre-plea investigation is conducted by the county probation department to provide the court with background on the defendant, including criminal history, employment, mental health, and other personal circumstances. The report is intended to guide sentencing in the event of a negotiated plea deal.
Passeri, 60, was indicted in March 2024 on 17 felony weapons charges after state police executed a search warrant at his Sigler Road home in January. Authorities seized 15 illegal firearms, including two untraceable ghost guns — semi-automatic rifles without serial numbers — along with high-capacity magazines and multiple boxes of ammunition. Prosecutors allege the weapons were part of an illegal manufacturing operation. His arrest followed complaints from Gallatin residents concerned about frequent gunfire.
If convicted on all counts, Passeri could face up to 25 years in prison.
In October 2024, prosecutors offered a plea deal that would reduce the charges to a single count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C felony. If accepted, Passeri would serve five years in prison followed by three years of post-release supervision. If rejected, the case could proceed to trial.