A Hot Springs man was arrested Sunday night after allegedly firing a shotgun and then using it to hit his neighbor during a dispute over the neighbor's Guinea birds being on his property.
Jonathan Wade Theriot, 38, of 194 Tom Trail, was taken into custody at his residence shortly before 8:30 p.m. and charged with a felony count of aggravated assault, punishable by up to six years in prison.
Theriot was being held on a $2,500 bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday, Garland County sheriff's Deputy Shane Tatum was dispatched to the 182 Tom Trail regarding a disturbance and was informed while still en route a victim was 'hit with a gun" and "the gun was broke in two pieces."
The victim, 46, told Tatum he has Guinea fowl that run on his property and onto the property of his neighbor, identified as Theriot. He said some of his birds were missing and several others had injuries on their legs and feet.
He said he went to Theriot's house and the two men argued and at one point, Theriot allegedly grabbed a shotgun and fired a round into a tree. The victim said he lunged at Theriot who swung the shotgun at him "like a baseball bat."
The victim reportedly sustained a laceration, about 4 millimeters long, to his right hand.
Tatum made contact with Theriot and noted he had a strong odor of intoxicants coming from his person. When asked what had happened, Theriot reportedly stated he was "tired of those birds coming onto his property and roosting on his roof." He said he told the victim to keep them off his property.
The affidavit notes the victim went to National Park Medical Center to have his injured finger treated.
Local on 05/12/2020