A teenager from Wathena pleaded guilty Wednesday to firearms charges stemming from a shooting at an underage drinking party in January. William Dowlen will be sentenced In September.

Another teen, Justice Joiner, was seriously injured by a gunshot wound to the leg in the incident. Dowlen, 17, told Judge Patrick Robb that he got beat up at the party. Dowlen said a friend gave him a 40-caliber Glock handgun. He told the judge he intended to fire the weapon into the ground to scare off his attackers. But he says the gun recoiled, and the second shot hit Joiner.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ron Holiday told the judge that this was a large, unchaperoned, underage drinking party. Holiday said he believes Dowlen was involved in one of several fights that broke out during the party  outside a residence on Mount Zion Road.  Holiday said there were conflicting accounts of how many shots were fired. Holiday said Joiner has recovered pretty well, after multiple surgeries for his injuries. Holiday said Joiner has another surgery scheduled later this year.

Defense attorney Thomas McBride told the judge his client had only shot a firearm once before in his life, and had never fired a handgun before. McBride said Dowlen intended to fire twice into the ground. Judge Robb questioned Dowlen about why he didn’t go to trial and assert his right to self defense. Dowlen said he was worried about being found guilty of a more serious charge.

Robb found Dowlen guilty on one count of unlawful use of a firearm, a class-e felony.  The judge ordered a pre-sentencing assessment and scheduled sentencing September 15 at 11:30 am.