A man who pleaded guilty to strangling his then girlfriend to the point of unconsciousness multiple times became unsteady on his feet and passed out during a sentencing hearing Monday in Berrien County Trial Court in Niles.

Andre Lee Williams swayed side to side and then collapsed onto a courtroom desk as a judge read a portion of the victim’s description of the incident.

Two court officers caught the 36-year-old Benton Harbor man before he fell to the floor and placed him in a chair.

Williams was escorted out of the courtroom for a short time and then returned to finish his hearing before Judge Dennis Wiley. Williams nearly collapsed again after the judge asked if he had anything to say before his sentencing.

A court officer caught Williams and sat him in a chair where he repeatedly said “they are cooking me on lies.”

The judge adjourned the sentencing hearing until next week and Williams was taken out of the courtroom.

Williams is being sentenced on two counts of assault by strangulation. He pleaded guilty to both counts.

According to court documents, Williams assaulted his then girlfriend near the 800 block of Sycamore Street in Niles on the evening of Sept. 15. The victim told police that Williams strangled her several times, only stopping as she began to lose consciousness. He also slapped her multiple times in the face, threw her on the ground and threatened to stomp her, according to court documents.

Police said while Williams was on his way to booking he tried to convince officers that his actions were justified because he thought the victim was cheating on him.

The maximum penalty for assault by strangulation is 10 years in prison. However, sentencing guidelines call for a penalty of between 38 and 76 months in this case.

Assistant Prosecutor Amy Byrd said Williams “clearly demonstrates a danger to the community” and that the victim was so afraid of him that she was worried how the case would play out in court.

Also Monday, a 19-year-old Niles man was sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years on probation for stealing from unlocked vehicles in the Niles area around the date of Sept. 23. Dallas Dettling pleaded guilty to one count of attempted larceny from a motor vehicle. Dettling must also serve an additional 90 days on electronic monitoring from the Michigan Department of Corrections.