War Machine Gets Life In Prison For Sexually Assaulting And Kidnapping Christy Mack

Former professional MMA fighter War Machine (born Jon Koppenhaver) was found guilty by a Las Vegas jury in March of 29 charges, including sexual assault and battery with a deadly weapon, after he attacked his ex-girlfriend Christy Mack and her friend Corey Thomas in 2014. He was charged with 34 counts spanning both violence and sexual assault-related offenses, although he avoided convictions on charges such as attempted murder and burglary with a deadly weapon. Today, War Machine was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 36 years.

War Machine (his legal name) was accused of breaking into Mack’s house on the night of Aug. 8, 2014, beating her up, beating Thomas up, and attempting to rape her before she escaped when he went to look for a knife larger than the one he had when he entered the house. He was caught in California after a week-long manhunt, and attempted suicide while he was in jail.

War Machine addressed the court and apologized for his actions, expressing his regrets and saying he was “not right” in the head. Mack was present in court and was adamant that if War Machine ever gets out, he will come after her. From the New York Post:

Appearing before the court Monday, a tearful Mack said that she did not know how long of a sentence would make things “feel right,” but that no amount will stop her from fearing for her life.

“I don’t know if my life will feel complete in 12 years or 30 years and neither do you, but I do know when he gets out he will kill me,” Mack said.