Jury Convicts Clock Shop Owner

The owner of a Coeur d’Alene clock shop was found guilty Thursday of exposing himself to a customer.

A six person jury found John Markham, owner of the Country Mouse Clocks, guilty of obscene public display of offensive sexual material.

Cheryl Kirkpatrick, of Harrison, Idaho, told police she went to the store at 1901 N. Fourth St. in September 1994.

According to a Coeur d’Alene Police report, she noticed a mirror leaned up against the store wall. In the reflection of the mirror, she saw a male in the back work area of the store with his genitals exposed.

Flustered, Kirkpatrick called out asking if anyone was there, according to the police report. Markham then came out fully clothed. Kirkpatrick left with her clock.

Five similar reports have been filed with the Coeur d’Alene police. Three women reported similar incidents at the store and two women said the store’s owner exposed himself elsewhere, according to police reports.

Markham was charged with obscene display of sexual material in 1993 but it was dismissed. In April, he is scheduled to stand trial for two charges of obscene conduct.