War Machine to stay behind bars until trial for brutal beating

By DAVID FERRARA LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

10 years ago

Jonathan Koppenhaver, aka War Machine, listens to testimony from his ex-girlfriend, Christy Mack, during a preliminary hearing at the Las Vegas Regional Justice Center on Friday, Nov. 14, 2014. (Michael Quine/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Chief Deputy District Attorney Jacqueline Bluth shows Christy Mack photos of Mack that were taken after she was allegedly battered by ex-boyfriend Jonathan Koppenhaver, aka War Machine, during a preliminary hearing at the Las Vegas Regional Justice Center on Friday, Nov. 14, 2014. (Michael Quine/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

onathan Koppenhaver, aka War Machine, appears before Judge Melanie Andress Tobiasson for a preliminary hearing at the Las Vegas Regional Justice Center on Friday, Nov. 14, 2014. (Michael Quine/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Jonathan Koppenhaver, aka War Machine, listens to testimony from his ex-girlfriend, Christy Mack, during a preliminary hearing at the Las Vegas Regional Justice Center on Friday, Nov. 14, 2014. (Michael Quine/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Christy Mack, ex-girlfriend of Jonathan Koppenhaver, aka War Machine, testifies during a preliminary hearing at the Las Vegas Regional Justice Center on Friday, Nov. 14, 2014. (Michael Quine/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Jonathan Koppenhaver, aka War Machine, appears before Judge Melanie Andress Tobiasson for a preliminary hearing at the Las Vegas Regional Justice Center on Friday, Nov. 14, 2014. (Michael Quine/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Former mixed martial artist Jonathan Koppenhaver, also known as War Machine appears in court before Judge Elissa Cadish on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 in Las Vegas. War Machine is being tried for brutally beating his former girlfriend Christy Mack. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas Review Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter @jtensuan

War Machine appears in court before Judge Elissa Cadish on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 in Las Vegas. War Machine, also known as Jon Koppenhaver, is being tried for brutally beating his former girlfriend Christy Mack. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas Review Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter @jtensuan

on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 in Las Vegas. War Machine is being tried for brutally beating his former girlfriend Christy Mack. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas Review Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter @jtensuan

Former mixed martial artist Jonathan Koppenhaver, also known as War Machine appears before Judge Elissa Cadish on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 in Las Vegas. War Machine is being tried for brutally beating his former girlfriend Christy Mack. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas Review Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter @jtensuan

Former mixed martial artist Jonathan Koppenhaver, also known as War Machine listens as his lawyer Brandon Sua argues before Judge Elissa Cadish on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 in Las Vegas. War Machine is being tried for brutally beating his former girlfriend Christy Mack. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas Review Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter @jtensuan

Former mixed martial artist Jonathan Koppenhaver, also known as War Machine speaks with his lawyer Brandon Sua as they appear before Judge Elissa Cadish on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 in Las Vegas. War Machine is being tried for brutally beating his former girlfriend Christy Mack. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas Review Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter @jtensuan

Former mixed martial artist Jonathan Koppenhaver, also known as War Machine gives a document to his lawyer Brandon Sua as they appear before Judge Elissa Cadish on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 in Las Vegas. War Machine is being tried for brutally beating his former girlfriend Christy Mack. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas Review Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter @jtensuan

Former mixed martial artist Jonathan Koppenhaver, also known as War Machine, must remain behind bars while he awaits trial on several charges in connection with an attack on his ex-girlfriend and another man, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Prosecutors have alleged that Koppenhaver brutally beat former adult film actress Christy Mack, whose real name is Christine Mackinday, and her friend Corey Thomas. Koppenhaver faces 34 counts at a trial scheduled for September.

Among the charges against War Machine, also known as Jonathan Koppenhaver, are two counts of attempted murder — a charge that carries a possible sentence of life in prison without parole.

The ex-Bellator MMA and Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter was arrested after the Aug. 8 assault on Mack and Thomas and has been in custody since.

In court Wednesday, defense lawyer Brandon Sua tried to argue that Koppenhaver never intended to kill Mackinday or Thomas, and asked District Judge Elissa Cadish to throw out those charges. But the judge said she believed there was enough circumstantial evidence to show Koppenhaver’s intent.

At one point during the hearing, Koppenhaver, 33, spoke out and said he wanted to take a polygraph test, which the judge promptly denied.

Koppenhaver has been held at the High Desert State Prison since December, when another judge revoked his probation in a separate case.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker