Man Gets 15 Years For Attempted Murder

Despite pleas for leniency from his mother and fiancee, Daniel Buckley may spend the maximum possible time behind bars for shooting his friend in the neck, a judge ordered Monday.

Judge Gary Haman sentenced Buckley to 15 years in prison - it is the maximum allowed for attempted second-degree murder. However, the Coeur d’Alene man will be eligible for parole after five years.

Buckley was originally charged with attempted first-degree murder for shooting Michael Byrnes, 37, of Coeur d’Alene. But in August, a jury instead found him guilty of attempted second-degree murder.

The two men had been friends for three years but on Dec. 10, 1994, they got into an argument over $100.

Buckley grabbed his .30-30 caliber rifle and fired twice, the second time hitting Byrnes in the neck. Buckley has said he was afraid of Byrnes and insisted that he did not mean to shoot his friend.

Byrnes lived through the incident.

“I am sorry for what happened that night,” Buckley told the judge Monday.

His mother and fiancee also told the judge that Buckley has changed for the better since he’s been in jail.

“I’ve come to love him as a son again,” said Shirley Buckley, Daniel’s mother. “It’s the first time I’ve seen him love life and actually want a life. I’m really proud of him.”

However, Judge Haman said, “I can’t ignore the serious nature of this crime.” , DataTimes