A federal jury today convicted a man of assaulting two nurses at the Spokane Veteran Affairs Medical Center.

James D. Scott, 42, was drunk when he attacked a nurse after his girlfriend brought him to the emergency room on Aug. 19, 2009. Scott had a blood-alcohol level of .38 , according to court documents.

Three hours after the first assault, he kicked another nurse and grabbed him by the throat.

His lawyer told jurors that post traumatic stress disorder caused Scott to drink and urged them to acquit him of two felony counts of assaulting a government employee.

Jurors convicted Scott after about a day of deliberations  following the week-and-a-half long trial.

Scott, who's in custody at the Spokane County Jail, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and three years probation.

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