A Coeur d'Alene man with a history of violent crimes was sentenced to up to ten years in prion for felony domestic battery.

John Joseph Marr, 57, was sentenced Thursday by District Judge John Mitchell.

Marr was charged in September after Coeur d'Alene police officers responded to Marr's home and found an injured victim with bleeding under the eyes and bruising to her lips and jaw.

The victim told police Marr had strangled her for several minutes and she lost consciousness.

Marr initially told investigators the injuries were caused by accident when he was trying to restrain the victim. Later, at sentencing, Marr said he had walked in on the victim while she was strangling herself.

In handing down the sentence, Mitchell said it was difficult to believe Marr's story about the victim's self-strangulation and that because Marr had little chance of rehabilitation, the community must be protected from him.

Marr's prior criminal record includes four felony convictions, including making terroristic threats, possession of a firearm by a felon, domestic battery and assault with a deadly weapon.

Mitchell ordered Marr to ten years in prison with parole eligibility after eight years.

In a press release, Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh commended the Coeur d'Alene Police Department and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Donna Gardner for their work on the case.

"The long sentence imposed by Judge Mitchell is justified by the nature of this crime and Marr's history of victimization of similar women. The long fixed sentence will prevent similar incidents for at least eight years, and we hope that Mr. Marr will be deterred from similar violent conduct in the future," said McHugh in a prepared statement.