Warren County authorities have charged a bounty hunter with felony assault for allegedly shooting a man who was hiding under a tarp.

Carlos R. Jones, 31, of St. Louis, was charged Aug. 6 with second-degree assault, a Class D felony. The charge stems from a Feb. 5 incident in which a team of bounty hunters was apprehending a criminal suspect who jumped his bail.

Investigators said the victim was shot three times with pest control ammunition, while attempting to hide from bounty hunters hired by a local bail agency. The victim was shot twice in the buttocks and once in the back of his leg, the sheriff’s department said.

The victim told deputies he was hiding underneath a tarp on top of his camper southeast of Truxton. One of the bounty hunters, later identified as Jones, reportedly shot the man twice while he was hiding, and once more after he crawled out from under the tarp and stood up.

During an interview with deputies, Jones allegedly admitted to the shooting. Jones reportedly said he grabbed an unfamiliar handgun while preparing to apprehend the victim, believing the gun was loaded with rubber bullets. Deputies said the gun was actually loaded with pest control rounds, similar to miniature birdshot shells.

Jones told deputies he had climbed on top of the camper in search of the bail jumper. He saw the shape under the tarp and touched it to confirm it was a person.

At that point, Jones told deputies he became frightened and shot the man under the tarp twice. He allegedly admitted to shooting a third time after the victim came out from the tarp.

The warrant for Jones’ arrest includes no bond.