Two men are in jail following an April 1 incident in which a child was shot in the shoulder with a BB gun. The 12-year-old sustained only a minor injury.

Paul Peterson, 38, was arrested and charged with child cruelty, assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy. Deputies were called to the scene by the victim’s father, who reported that Peterson had shot his son while he rode a dirt bike.

According to the sheriff’s report, the child and his sister were riding dirt bikes near Peterson’s house. The sister said she saw him pumping the BB gun and walking toward her and her brother, yelling. Then her brother said he had been shot. Another witness corroborated the story.

The deputy on scene saw a small hole on the child’s shoulder. He was taken to Children’s Hospital Central California for treatment.

Peterson yelled at the deputies, saying he didn’t even own a BB gun. He said he had just gotten home and had no idea what the deputy was talking about.

Another man at the residence, Gaylan Hammond, tried to back up Peterson’s story. The deputy learned that he was a parolee and arrested him on a parole hold, interfering with an investigation and conspiracy.