HUMBOLDT, Neb. (AP) — A former sheriff’s deputy in Nebraska has pleaded no contest to charges that he accidently shot himself, then tried to make it look like he’d been the victim of a crime.

26-year-old Joshua Nincehelser entered the plea on Nov. 4 to felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor false reporting. Sentencing is set for Dec. 16.

Nincehelser told authorities in June that he was shot by a driver he had pulled over near Humboldt, but authorities determined he lied. Nincehelser then told investigators he’d accidentally shot himself and shot at his cruiser to make his story look real.

Nincehelser was later fired. The newspaper reports prosecutors dropped charges of use of a firearm to commit a felony, obstructing government operations and abuse of public records.