Up To 40 Years In Prison For Pottstown Man Who Shot Officer

POTTSTOWN, PA — A Pottstown man who charged at a police officer, grappled for his gun, and ultimately caused the weapon to fire and strike the officer has been sentenced to 20 to 40 years behind bars.

The sentence was handed down by Judge Thomas DelRicci in Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday.

William Ciccoli, 43, was found guilty of assault of a law enforcement with the discharge of a firearm. He was found not guilty of the far more grave charge of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.

The incident began in Pottstown on Nov. 15, 2024 at around 2:40 p.m., on the 200 block of Chestnut Street.

Pottstown police Corporal Anthony Fischer and Officer John Schmalbach responded to the call, which involved William Ciccoli Jr. and his girlfriend, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said.

Police separated the two and provided each with domestic violence information, and authorities planned on issuing Ciccoli two citations.

Hours later, Fischer and Schmalbach were called to the same apartment for another disturbance. The woman said that Ciccoli had grabbed her by the neck and choked her, officials said.

When Schmalbach tried to take Ciccoli into custody, Ciccoli charged at Fischer and grappled with him for his gun, according to the DA's office. That's when Fischer's weapon went off and he was struck in the right hip.

Ciccoli was subdued and arrested, and Fischer received first aid on the scene before being taken to Reading Hospital Trauma Center for surgery and beginning his recovery.

Cicolli has been booked at Montgomery County Correctional Facility since the incident.