On Dec. 31, New York State Police charged Cazenovia resident, James H. Nichols, 45, of 3587 Pompey Hollow Road, with two misdemeanors, after neighbors called 911 to report a stray bullet that struck their house.

At approximately 1:46 p.m., State Police in LaFayette responded to 3560 Oran Delphi Road in the town of Pompey, where the residents claimed a rifle bullet was shot through their front door, and struck an interior wall.

The homeowner told troopers that his wife ran to the dining room and discovered the projectile on the table, after they observed an impact mark in their sheetrock wall and bullet hole in their insulated steel door.

According to investigators, the bullet passed through the front door at a height of two-feet and six ½ inches from the floor, before continuing in a western direction across the room, striking the wall at a height of six-feet and six-inches. The bullet left a visible mark on the interior wall above a hanging mirror, where it was reported a resident was standing at the time.

After securing the area, State Police located Nichols in his front yard, which is a half-mile directly east of the complainants’ residence. Nichols told troopers he had been firing his Mosin-Nagant .308 Rifle at a couch behind his house.

Investigators seized the rifle from Nichols, as well as ammunition. He was charged with fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree reckless endangerment, which are both class “A” misdemeanors.

Nichols was then issued an appearance ticket, returnable to the Town of Pompey Court at 7 p.m. Jan. 24.

Pierce Smith is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at 434-8889 ext. 338 or [email protected].