Man spits on court floor after traffic conviction

[December 30, 2008]  SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) -- A northern Idaho man convicted of a traffic violation in Bonner County was ordered to spend two days in jail after he spit on the courthouse floor in anger.

First District Court Judge Justin Julian found 59-year-old Daniel Malone in contempt on Wednesday.

Julian said the man glared before "maliciously expelling a large amount of saliva" onto a carpet in the courthouse hallway. Earlier in the day, the judge found Malone guilty of failing to obey a stop sign in September.

He was ordered to pay a $75 fine.

Malone said he is innocent of the traffic violation and suggested the judge should show mercy because it was Christmas Eve. Julian told Malone there was no excuse for his behavior.

Malone was released from jail on Friday.

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Information from: Bonner Daily Bee, http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/

[Associated Press]

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