A California man faces up to three years in prison after firing a handgun at a group of teenagers who had targeted his home with eggs and oil, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Steven Miceli pleaded no contest to felony assault with a firearm and possession of an AR-15 rifle, San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe told SFGate.
The charges stem from an incident on May 25, 2025, sparked by a dispute involving Miceli’s daughter and her classmates.
“He does not have a significant record, but he is facing a potential jail sentence,” Wagstaffe told the outlet. “You can’t overreact to situations with gunfire.”
The conflict began May 23 when three students from Hillsdale High School allegedly poured oil on the porch of Miceli’s residence on the 1000 block of Annapolis Drive. Chief Deputy District Attorney Shin-Mee Chang reported that the teens targeted the house because a classmate they disliked lived there.
Two days later, the same group, aged 16 and 17, returned to the property and threw raw eggs at the house. As the teenagers attempted to drive away in an SUV, Miceli stood outside with a handgun and fired two shots at the vehicle. One of the rounds struck the passenger-side quarter window, according to incident notes.
Miceli told responding officers that his daughter had been the victim of “constant bullying at the high school” and expressed frustration over having to clean oil off his porch. He informed police that his intent was to shoot the tires of the SUV and that he later disposed of the handgun in Waterdog Lake.
In a later investigation, police executed a search warrant at Miceli’s home and recovered an illegal automatic rifle.
“This was such a highly dangerous situation,” Chang told the publication. “We’re relieved no one got hurt.”
The three teenagers involved will not face charges. However, Wagstaffe cautioned that such actions could lead to volatile outcomes, stating that “pranks” could put teens in “bad situations.”
Miceli remains in custody on a $25,000 bond. His sentencing is scheduled for August 10.
