Jury finds man guilty of attempted murder in ND


February 9, 2012 at 5:33p.m.

Jury finds man guilty of attempted murder in ND

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A man accused of bringing a handgun into a western North Dakota courtroom and unsuccessfully trying to fire it has been convicted of two counts of attempted murder.

Vicente Chacano was found guilty today of attempted murder of the prosecutor and sheriff who were in the courtroom on Feb. 4, 2011. He was acquitted on 12 other counts involving the jurors.

Chacano testified that anxiety, stress and illness played a part in the incident. He said he was in a hurry to get to a sentencing hearing for a sex crime and forgot he had tucked the gun. He said he panicked when he realized he had it, and blacked out.

Prosecutors called Chacano’s testimony a lie.

Witnesses said the gun jammed. The judge and prosecutor subdued Chacano.