Loaded Assault Rifles Were Steps Away From 9-Year-Old's Bed: Police

By Wendy Ann Mitchell (Patch Staff)

New Fairfield, CT— A police report released on Tuesday revealed that a New Fairfield man who was arrested on March 24, 2016 had loaded assault weapons in an unlocked office closet just steps away from his 9-year-old son's bedroom.

Michael Giannone, 44, of New Fairfield, was arrested and charged with making and selling illegal rifles and handguns, some without serial numbers, after a months-long investigation by Connecticut's Statewide Urban Violence Crime Control Task Force.

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Giannone was taken into custody on March 24, 2016. The investigation was officially completed on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 when police released the report.

A neighbor who did not wish to be named told Patch that Giannone grew up in Chappaqua and owned Bella Ella Pizzeria in Croton Falls in Westchester but sold it due to financial trouble. The neighbor described Giannone as "arrogant" and said he comes from a wealthy background. She said Giannone went to middle school at The Harvey School in Katonah and graduated from The Gunnery School in Washington, Conn. where he played hockey.

A Yelp reviewer, "Kevin F.," described the staff of Giannone's restaurant, Bella Ella, as "rather unpleasant" and went on to say that the owner "has a chip on his shoulder from day one, and I think it flows down to the rest of the staff."

Giannone's Merlin Avenue home and two vehicles were searched on March 24 where police found 59 complete firearms, 48 of which were legal after searching his home. Police said the nine unregistered weapons they found were assault rifles and did not have serial numbers.

When police questioned Giannone's wife about the unsecured firearms in nearby proximity to her son's bedroom she said her son is "intellectual and academic" and would not touch them.

"Mostly they're locked up int he closet," Mrs. Giannone told police. "My son does not like firearms. He's not a shooter. It's not a big deal to him. My son's an intellectual and an academic. He stays away from this."

The Department of Children and Families has been contacted and is investigating the matter, however, police did not say whether or not the child has been removed from the home.

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After a search, police also found over 10,000 live rounds of ammunition, 12 illegal AR-15 lower receivers without serial numbers, 65 illegal high-capacity magazines, one rifle with an illegal silencer and two additional silencers.

Giannone was charged with nine counts of possession of assault weapons, three counts of possession of silencers, 65 counts of possession of high-capacity magazine, improper storage of firearms, risk of injury to a minor and possession of weapon on school grounds.

According to court records, he faced a judge in Danbury Superior Court on Tuesday and pleaded "Not guilty" to all charges. He is next due in court on July 12, 2016.

Related:

Connecticut Man Arrested for Making and Selling Illegal High Capacity AR-15 Assault Rifles

Connecticut State Police photo