TREMONT — A former borough councilman and code enforcement officer was charged by Tremont police with bringing a loaded, concealed firearm into a district court office.
Patrolman John Borchick charged Gerald W. Fasnacht with one misdemeanor count of possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a court facility.
The charge against Fasnacht stems from an incident about 9:35 a.m. Jan. 6 at the office of Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, 19 N. Pine St.
Borchick said he was called to the court by the Schuylkill County Communications Center and, once there, was told by Rossi that Fasnacht was in his courtroom carrying a firearm.
Rossi reported that he was alerted to the weapon by a man who was there as a defendant, Borchick said.
The officer said he entered the courtroom and found Fasnacht sitting at a table and asked him if was carrying a weapon, to which the man replied that he was not.
Borchick said he asked Fasnacht if he could search him and the man said yes but added that he had taken his handgun to his car a short time earlier.
Fasnacht said he carries the handgun all the time because of the people he deals with and forgot he had it with him when he entered the courtroom, Borchick reported.
The man who reported the incident to Rossi said he and his wife were in the courtroom when he looked over at Fasnacht and saw he had a concealed weapon, the officer said.
After learning of the weapon, Borchick said Rossi exited his courtroom and called police.
Borchick said that, although Fasnacht has a permit to carry the weapon, the court is clearly marked that any type of weapon is prohibited.
Fasnacht’s arrest on Jan. 8 is the second time the man was charged by Tremont police in the same number of months.
Borchick charged Fasnacht with two counts of harassment and one count of disorderly conduct after he allegedly caused a disturbance at a Tremont Borough Council meeting on Dec. 8.
Borchick said the council meeting was interrupted due to a disturbance in the hallway involving Fasnacht and two residents, Michael Wiscount, 65, and Cheryl Wiscount, also 65, both of Tremont.
Borchick said police Chief Michael Conway left the meeting to check the disturbance and was told by Cheryl Wiscount that she wanted Fasnacht arrested for allegedly shoving her and Michael Wiscount.
The investigation was turned over to Borchick who said he consulted with the district attorney’s office so no conflicts would arise.
The officer said he and Schuylkill County Detective Martin Heckman conducted interviews and reviewed security video resulting in the charges being filed after consulting with an assistant district attorney.
Tremont Borough Council also took action against Fasnacht by immediately removing him from his code enforcement officer position.