CASSSOPOLIS — A man who prosecutors called “extremely dangerous” will spend nearly a decade behind bars.

Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman sentenced Jamel Raheem Vincent, 24, of the 500 block of Vineyard Place in Dowagiac, to eight to 20 years in prison on charges of domestic violence, assault with intent of great bodily harm less than murder and witness intimidation.

The charges stem from events that took place on Sept. 28, 2017, in Vincent’s Dowagiac residence. Vincent has credit for 275 days already served.

On the night in question, police were called to the scene on a domestic violence call involving Vincent and the victim, who was his girlfriend at the time. At the scene, police witnessed injuries on the victim’s face and neck, resulting in Vincent being charged with domestic violence. According to the presentence investigation, the victim said that Vincent had choked her.

Vincent was later charged with threatening the victim to dissuade her from testifying against him in the domestic violence case.

The charges mark Vincent’s 11th conviction, several of which were violent crimes.

Vincent pleaded no contest to the charges during a court appearance May 4. Despite this, he attempted to withdraw his plea prior to sentencing Friday, saying that he had received promises from court officials to be placed in the Swift and Sure Probation program if he pleaded no contest. Vincent’s motion to withdraw his plea was denied by the judge, saying there was clear evidence that Vincent understood he did not qualify for the program, and had stated in court that no one had made him any promises in exchange for his plea.

When it came time for the prosecutor’s remarks prior to sentencing, Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz spoke about the impact Vincent’s charges have had on his victim.

“He has terrified this woman,” Fitz said. “She has had difficulty sleeping [since the incident occurred].”

According to statements by the victim included in the presentence investigation report, the victim described Vincent as “volatile,” saying that he threatened to kill her and her children should she testify against him.

“This is the type of man the public needs to be protected from,” Fitz said of Vincent.

Fitz also noted that Vincent has a long string of violent behavior and said he will need to learn to be a productive member of society while behind bars.

“In his 24 years, [Vincent] has proven himself to be a man of violence,” Fitz said. “He has certainly created a nightmare on Vineyard Street. … I hope when he is in prison he will reflect on his behavior and come out a man, not someone who is cowardly and tells a woman after choking her that he will kill her.”

During sentencing Friday, Vincent said he was not the person the prosecutor was making him out to be and that he was sorry for his actions.

“I have made a lot of decisions, including alcohol and drugs, that were a result of the life I had and how I grew up,” he said. “I hope you all will see forward into the person that I really am.”

The ultimate sentence of eight to 20 years in Cass County Jail was negotiated as a plea agreement between the prosecutor and Vincent’s attorney. Judge Herman honored the agreement.