Mark Walker

mwalker@argusleader.com

A man who accidentally shot himself in the penis in 2015 was sentenced to five years in prison in October after lying about the incident.

Donald Anthony Watson was sentenced to five years in prison after he pled guilty to a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Watson was admitted to the Avera McKennan emergency room about 1:30 a.m. Sept. 6, 2015, for a gunshot wound to his penis, according to an arrest affidavit.

When questioned by police, the 43-year-old said he was shot by “a black guy (who) tried to rob” him while he was taking out the trash at his apartment.

Officers went to Watson’s apartment in the 1500 block of East Nye Street to look for evidence and witnesses to corroborate Watson’s story. No evidence of a shooting was found near the dumpster. A witness told officers he heard screams of pain coming from Watson’s apartment about 1 a.m. that morning.

Man shoots self in penis, lies to police: affidavit

A search warrant was served on Watson’s house because of the conflicting stories. Officers found what appeared to be bullet fragments on Watson’s bed, court records show. An empty gun case was found. Officers weren’t able to locate the firearm.

Before Watson entered surgery, officers again asked him how he was shot. This time, he told the officer he shot himself while looking at a gun he was trying to buy.

Two days after the surgery, Watson was re-interviewed about the shooting. He told officers he was examining the gun, placed it in his pocket and the gun discharged, striking him in the penis. He refused to tell officers who was selling the gun and where the gun is now.

Watson was then arrested on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a drug offender, false report of a crime to law enforcement and false report of information to law enforcement.