A Fouke man was arrested Monday evening on felony charges stemming from allegations he shot a 4-year-old boy in the foot Saturday, rearranged the crime scene and left with the gun.

Noah Michael Veuthey, 18, was taken into custody just before 6:30 p.m. Monday and charged with second-degree battery and tampering with physical evidence, both felonies punishable by up to six years in prison.

Veuthey remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $5,000 bond, and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on Saturday, a 4-year-old boy was brought into the emergency room at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs with a gunshot wound to his right foot.

On Monday, Veuthey was reportedly interviewed by Garland County sheriff's investigators and stated the gun accidentally discharged after he leaned over a bed. The barrel was allegedly pressed against the mattress at the time. The boy, who was sleeping on the floor next to the bed, was reportedly struck in the foot by the bullet.

Veuthey told investigators the gun was a .40-caliber Beretta, but before he left the residence with the firearm, he placed a 9-mm handgun on the bed and found a spent 9-mm shell casing that he then placed on the floor.

The affidavit did not indicate why Veuthey switched the guns.

Local on 10/18/2017