Clovis man gets maximum for domestic violence

A 33-year-old Clovis man was sentenced Friday to 9 1/2 years in jail for committing domestic violence, the maximum sentence under state law, according to a news release from the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

Mark Garcia was found guilty in August 2005 of intimidating a witness, false imprisonment and battering a household member, the release said.

The victim, Garcia’s girlfriend, told officials she thought Garcia was going to choke her to death, according to the release.

Garcia has a previous felony conviction, so he will have to serve 85 percent of his time before he is eligible for parole, the release said.