Benjamin J. Bachle, 45, of 425 Richart Road, Muncy, has been charged with illegal possession of a weapon, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person after state police say he fired shots at an acquaintance at his home on the morning of May 7.

Speaking with police, Bachle stated that the alleged victim came to his house after making threatening statements towards him, according to court documents.

Upon her arrival, Bachle exited his residence and pointed a .223 rifle in her direction and had fired a few shots into the ground in front of her in order to scare her, he allegedly told police, adding that at no time did he see a weapon on the alleged victim.

The alleged victim had only come to the house out of concern for her son, who lives with Bachle, she told police.

When she arrived at his house, Bachle immediately began yelling at her and fired shots in her direction, at which time, she got in her car and left the scene, she said, according to an affidavit.

Two spent .223 casings were recovered from the area Bachle was standing at the time of the shooting, as well as two live rounds in the same area. During the execution of a search warrant, police discovered a Ruger Mini 14 .223 on the back seat of Bachle’s truck, an affidavit said.

He was arraigned before District Judge Kirsten Gardner, and released on $25,000 bail.