FARGO - A man has been found guilty of threatening to kill President Bush while serving time in a Jamestown jail.

Federal court jurors deliberated about three hours Wednesday before convicting Daniel Cvijanovich on one of three felony counts of threats against the president. He faces up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at sentencing on Jan. 3.

Defense attorney Benjamin Thomas declined comment after the verdict.

Authorities said Cvijanovich told the Stutsman County Jail inmates that he planned to kill Bush after he was released from prison. Cvijanovich was serving time for throwing a rock at the federal building in Fargo.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Shasky said the government was "happy to have one guilty verdict" but believed there was enough evidence to convict Cvijanovich on all three counts.

"But we certainly respect the jury's verdict," he said.

Thomas said during closing arguments Wednesday that at least two government witnesses, Robby Aldrich and Kyle White, testified because they wanted reduced sentences. The testimony of inmate Gary Zinck was "a jumbled mess," Thomas said.

"The strength of their case hinges completely on the credibility of their star witnesses - Gary Zinck, Kyle White and Robby Aldrich," Thomas said. "With hinges like that, the door of the government's case fell off some time yesterday."

Shasky said at least two of the inmates informed authorities about the threats before the federal case began.

"I didn't want to march a bunch of felons in here and have you listen to that," Shasky told jurors. "That's where the evidence came from."

Attorneys also argued over whether Cvijanovich was serious about making threats. Thomas referred to his client's comments as jokes, lies and exaggerations, and "the kind of big talk that goes on in prison."

Shasky referred to a letter White sent to authorities in which he called Cvijanovich a dangerous man.

"Do you think he (White) believed that the defendant meant what he said? Sure, he did," Shasky said.