BENTONVILLE — A Decatur couple received prison and jail sentences after their 5-year-old shot himself last year.
Lawrence Thompson, 43, pleaded guilty to possession of firearms by certain persons, tampering with physical evidence and endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree on Monday.
Jessica Kay Thompson, 28, pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree.
Circuit Judge Brad Karren accepted the Thompsons’ guilty pleas and the plea agreements.
Lawrence Thompson was sentenced to five years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. He must abide by a suspended-sentence agreement for six years after his release from prison.
Jessica Thompson was sentenced to 60 days in the Benton County Jail. She also was placed on six years of state supervised probation.
The Thompsons were arrested June 27. Their arrests stem from an accident where the couple’s son shot himself with a revolver, according to court documents. The shooting occurred at 1:30 a.m. June 26 at 388 Hill Ave. in Decatur.
Jessica Thompson took her son to Siloam Springs Regional Hospital. He later was transferred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.
A doctor told Decatur police the boy had a pattern of burns on his legs and face from a gunshot, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The doctor told police when he confronted the parents about the boy having a gunshot wound Lawrence and Jessica Thompson denied owning a gun, the affidavit states. They also said they were asleep when the incident happened, according to court documents.
Lawrence Thompson later told the doctor the injury was from a gunshot. He claimed his .38-caliber revolver was locked away, but his son must have found the key and then got the gun, according to court documents. Lawrence Thompson said he was awakened by the gunshot and found his bleeding son in the hallway, according to the affidavit.
Jessica Thompson took the boy to the hospital and Lawrence Thompson said he retrieved the bullet that lodged in the ceiling and put it in the kitchen trash can, according to court documents.
Jessica Thompson admitted telling an emergency room physician the boy received the injuries from a butcher’s knife, but claimed she lied because she was afraid of losing her children, according to court documents.
The Thompsons must each pay $1,870 in court costs and must complete a parenting class.