An Annsville, N.Y., man says he was aiming for a turkey, not a private investigator following up on his workers’ compensation claim, before firing his shotgun earlier this year.

William Wehnke, 51, pleaded not guilty to assault charges in Oneida County Court Dec. 2, according to the Utica Observer-Dispatch. Wehnke was arraigned on a three-count grand jury indictment that included felony second-degree assault and unlawful manner of taking, a violation that claims the man used an inappropriate type of ammunition for hunting turkey.

Wehnke’s indictment does not say he knowingly shot at a person, but accuses him of recklessness in causing injury to Matthew Brady.

In May, Wehnke said he spotted a turkey in a nearby cornfield and took aim and fired, hitting Brady with a shotgun blast in the side of his body, his back and legs. His injuries required surgery. Brady was investigating Wehnke at the time of the shooting to monitor his workers’ compensation claim, according to the report.

The public defender’s office, representing Wehnke, told the court that Brady was wearing dark-colored and camouflaged clothing and lying on the ground at the time of the shooting. The public defender said Wehnke didn’t expect anybody to be near the cornfield and after hearing Brady cry out, he called 911 immediately.

Wehnke is due back in court Dec. 16 to either accept or reject a plea deal, according to the Observer-Dispatch.