A 61-year-old Zanesville man is accused of stabbing a man in the leg after the victim put himself in the middle of an altercation.

Jeffrey Fouch was allegedly hitting his wife in the dining room of their home when the woman called for her cousin in another room, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Taylor Bennington said during Fouch’s plea hearing.

The cousin came into the dining room and stepped between the couple while Fouch’s wife went into the bathroom. At that time, Fouch allegedly grabbed a 12-inch knife that was nearby and stabbed the cousin in the thigh, which began profusely bleeding.

Fouch’s wife returned to the room upon hearing her cousin yell to find the man bleeding. She called the police and the cousin was taken to the hospital by ambulance. He underwent surgery as his femoral artery was cut, Bennington said.

After stabbing his wife’s cousin, Fouch wrapped clothing around the man’s wound and attempted to administer first aid before EMS arrived.

Upon written consent, authorities searched the home and found the knife that Fouch used wrapped in a blanket on top of a freezer.

Monday afternoon, Fouch pleaded guilty to one first-degree felony count of felonious assault and two third-degree felony counts of tampering with evidence.

Fouch’s bond, which was previously posted at $100,000, was continued pending his sentencing.