FAIRMONT — A Sherburn man is facing a felony charge in Martin County.

Bradley Joseph Arnold, 32, has been charged with possession of a firearm after having been previously convicted of a crime of violence, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine.

According to the complaint: On Dec. 24, a Martin County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to the emergency room of Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont to take a report on a hunting accident. The injured man was identified as Arnold.

The deputy asked Arnold what happened. Arnold said he and a friend were hunting coyotes and Arnold shot himself while reloading his rifle. Arnold said the incident happened at about 4 p.m. that day, and identified his friend to the deputy.

The deputy went to interview the friend, who said he was not paying attention but noticed Arnold bend down to pick something up off the ground. He said that a short time later Arnold’s rifle went off.

A check on Arnold’s record shows he had a 2004 conviction for felony fifth-degree controlled substance crime in Martin County, creating a lifetime ban for him on possessing a firearm.