Man charged with accidentally shooting minor had previous felony conviction

A man arrested in rural Linn County Monday on a charge of reckless use of a firearm after police say he shot a boy in the head with birdshot is now also facing a charge of felon in possession of a firearm.

According to a criminal complaint, Kevin Gouchee, 62, was convicted in 1995 in Cedar County of third-degree burglary, meaning he was ineligible to possess a firearm.

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On Monday, police say Gouchee shot a child — stated to be 12 years old in a news release from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, but 10 years old in a criminal complaint filed in court — in the back of the head, after he saw movement in the bushes that he thought was a groundhog.

The child had been fishing along the Cedar River at 975 River Bay, in rural Mount Vernon. The birdshot was fired from about 90 feet away, and left the boy with bleeding wounds on his back and to the back of his head, according to the complaint.

The boy, who was not identified, was in serious but stable condition, with an injury that appeared to be non-life-threatening, when the ambulance left to take him to University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center in Iowa City.

Gouchee had his first appearance in court Tuesday and is being held in the Linn County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

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