Report of Derry Township man shooting gun leads to drug, firearm arrest

State police investigating a Derry Township man for firing a handgun off his back porch Wednesday later arrested him after troopers said they seized 17 handguns, rifles and shotguns along with more than a half pound of suspected cocaine and $30,000 cash found inside his home.

Anthony “JR” Desport, 33, of Bradenville, is charged with 17 counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts of delivery, manufacturing and possessing a controlled substance and single counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and reckless endangerment.

Desport was ordered held in the county jail without bond after District Judge Mark Mansour deemed him a potential flight risk.

Troopers also arrested his girlfriend Cassandra M. Fallecker, 29, of Murrysville, on multiple drug possession-related charges. She is in the county jail on $150,000 bond.

Troopers said they were dispatched to the residence just after noon Wednesday after an area resident reported that Desport was shooting a firearm from his back porch in the residential area.

When police arrived, Trooper Evan Terek reported that Desport said he was target shooting with his father, who is not charged, using a 9 mm handgun. There was no protective backing to prevent bullets from passing through the targets or to prevent ricochets, troopers said in court documents.

Norfolk Southern Railroad trains regularly pass though the area and the shooting “recklessly placed others in danger,” Terek wrote.

Asked whether he had ever been convicted of a felony, Desport responded that he was not sure but said he was once arrested for “having 3 ounces of marijuana,” Terek reported.

Desport showed troopers the handgun he was shooting and invited them inside to view other guns he had, but Fallecker locked officers out of the house for “5 or 7 minutes” despite Desport inviting them inside, Terek reported.

While locked outside, troopers learned that Desport was convicted of a felony count of possession with intent to deliver marijuana in 2008. It is illegal for convicted felons to possess firearms in Pennsylvania.

Troopers obtained search warrants and found the majority of firearms, including an AR-15 rifle, inside a bedroom as well as a safe containing the alleged contraband and cash.