A Niles man who strangled his ex-girlfriend until she passed out on Christmas morning will spend the next several months in jail.

Brandon Henry Thomas, 26, of the 600 block of N. Front St., was sentenced Monday in Berrien County Trial Court to 300 days in jail and three years probation on one count of felony assault by strangulation.

Judge Angela Pasula said Thomas could serve the final 30 days of his sentence in the Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program (KPEP). Once released from jail, Thomas will have to spend 120 days on tether.

Pasula also ordered Thomas to undergo a mental health assessment.

The sentence stems from when police were dispatched to the 300 block of Cecil Street in Buchanan for a domestic violence complaint in the afternoon of Dec. 25.

The victim told officers that her ex-boyfriend Thomas, whom she had dated for 3 1/2 years, strangled her three times on Christmas morning, according to court documents.

The victim said she did not call police after the first time she was strangled because Thomas threatened to kill her, according to court docuements.

“I think this is more serious than your standard domestic violence crime,” said assistant prosecutor Cortney O’Malley.

Also Monday:

• Shaquille Decarlo Smith-Johnson, 21, of the 500 block of Maple Street in Niles, was sentenced to a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 24 months in state prison for attempting to solicit sex from a minor using social media, according to court documents.

• Dustin Michael Backus, 39, of the 8000 block of Warren Woods Road in Three Oaks, was sentenced to three years probation on one count of domestic violence as a third offense. The judge also ordered Backus to successfully complete the Swift and Sure probation program and the inpatient treatment program at KPEP. He must also spend 180 days on alcohol monitoring tether upon finishing KPEP.