Motel Clerk Cleared By Jury In Shooting

A Coeur d’Alene motel clerk accused of attempted murder for shooting another man four times was acquitted of all charges Friday.

A jury deliberated four hours before dismissing the attempted second-degree murder charge against Brian S. Golden.

Golden was charged with attempted murder in December 1995 after a fight broke out at the Silver Lake Motel where he worked as a clerk.

Mark M. Harmon was shot in the abdomen, elbow and foot. A bullet also grazed his thigh.

Golden allegedly went to a motel room where Harmon and others were having a party and attempted to break up a fight, according to police reports.

Witnesses told police that Golden first used pepper spray to try to break up the brawl. Golden and Harmon ended up fighting each other on the ground, the police report said.

Golden fired his .45-caliber hand gun. Harmon got up and ran from Golden, according to the report. Golden then allegedly fired several more shots, according to the report.

Golden and his attorney Fred Loats argued it was self-defense and that Golden didn’t remember firing many of the shots because he was unconscious from being beaten up.

The jury could have opted to convict Golden of a lesser crime of battery or assault. , DataTimes