Former MMA fighter sentenced to life

The former mixed martial arts fighter known as War Machine was sentenced Monday to 36 years to life in Nevada state prison for kidnapping, beating and sexually assaulting his porn actress ex-girlfriend and attacking her male friend at her Las Vegas home in 2014.

Jonathan Paul Koppenhaver, 35, offered an apology full of self-loathing during his sentencing on 29 felony and misdemeanor charges in the attacks on Christy Mack and Corey Thomas. He called himself a “very lost, very empty person” who hated his aggressive impulses and “should have killed myself by now.”

“Sometimes I didn’t realize what I did until I’d already done it,” Koppenhaver told Clark County District Court Judge Elissa Cadish. “I hate that this happened.”

Koppenhaver will be 71 before he’s eligible for parole.

His lawyer, Jay Leiderman, said Koppenhaver tried to hang himself in jail in January, but that he has turned to religion and wants to become a role model behind bars.

The Associated Press normally does not identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault, but Mack gave AP permission to use her name. She has spoken publicly about her experience with domestic violence. Her legal name is Christine Mackinday.

She, her mother and Thomas also spoke during a lengthy sentencing hearing that Leiderman tried to avoid altogether.

The judge rejected Leiderman’s bid for a new trial based on an obscure 1911 state law that the defense attorney said would have let Koppenhaver tell the jury that he “just lost it” and fell into a blind rage amounting unconsciousness during the attacks, and therefore could not have known he was committing a crime.

College football

MICHIGAN STATE PLAYERS CHARGED » Three Michigan State football players are being charged in an alleged sexual assault on campus in January, an attorney said Monday.

Ingham County prosecutor Carol Siemon said only that three people were being charged in the incident, but she didn’t release details or names.

Karen Truszkowski, an attorney for the accuser, told The Associated Press that the three are football players.

“I’m pleased to see the process is moving along. This is just one more step along the way,” Truszkowski said.

In a separate but related investigation by the university, the three are facing possible discipline as students.

Earlier Monday, Michigan State released a report from an external law firm that investigated the football program’s handling of the allegations. The investigation found no evidence that coach Mark Dantonio violated the school’s policy on relationship violence and sexual misconduct. The report said Dantonio “took prompt and decisive action” with respect to the January incident that has led to criminal charges.

The school announced Feb. 9 that three players were suspended as part of a sexual assault investigation. A staff member associated with the football program also was suspended.

NFL

SEAHAWKS SIGN AUSTIN DAVIS » The Seahawks’ search for some depth at quarterback has led them to journeyman Austin Davis.

Seattle released Jake Heaps to make room on the roster for Davis, who was signed Monday after spending time with the Rams, Browns and Broncos.

The 28-year-old Davis will be added to the backup competition with Trevone Boykin, last year’s No. 2 behind starter Russell Wilson.

College softball

The college softball World Series game between Oklahoma and Florida was not completed in time for this edition of the News-Herald. Check online at the news-herald.com for results.