ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – A 28-year-old rural Alaska man who acted as his own attorney in a felony domestic violence case, and cross-examined his ex-girlfriend on the stand for more than eight hours, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Michael Redfox of Emmonak at a March trial in Bethel was convicted of three felony assault charges.

Superior Court Judge Nathaniel Peters sentenced him Wednesday. State prosecutors say Peters noted that Redfox’s prospects for rehabilitation were poor based on past criminal history.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Redfox strangled his girlfriend several different times during the attack and at one point, she stabbed Redfox in the forehead with a screwdriver to make him stop.

Redfox at sentencing said he was a strong candidate for rehabilitation because he had completed substance abuse programs.