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Fighter War Machine won’t contest extradition

By WTOP Staff

KEN RITTER
Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) — War Machine, a mixed martial arts fighter accused of brutally beating his porn star girlfriend in Las Vegas and fleeing to a Los Angeles suburb, told a California judge Tuesday he won’t contest his return in custody to Nevada, a sheriff’s official said.

The man born Jonathan Paul Koppenhaver waived extradition in Ventura County Superior Court following his arrest Friday at an extended-stay hotel in Simi Valley, Ventura County sheriff’s Capt. Don Aguilar said.

Koppenhaver was returned to the Ventura County jail to await transfer to Las Vegas on an unspecified date.

The 32-year-old Koppenhaver is accused of beating Christy Mack so badly early Aug. 8 that she told police in Las Vegas that she feared for her life and ran naked outside to seek help from neighbors.

Prosecutors in Las Vegas filed multiple felony battery, assault and coercion charges that could get Koppenhaver a total of more than 25 years in prison if he is convicted. He also faces a misdemeanor lewdness count involving the groping of Mack.

Mack, 23, who also uses the name Christine Mackinday, told police that Koppenhaver showed up unannounced at her home as she and a friend, Corey Thomas, were sleeping and began beating Thomas.

Police said Thomas suffered broken bones in his face before Koppenhaver sent him away with a threat that he would have friends kill Thomas if he reported the attack.

Mack told police that Koppenhaver then began beating her as he read her text messages, and continued after she showered. She later posted a statement online saying she feared for her life when Koppenhaver sawed off her hair with a dull knife.

Police reported that Koppenhaver punched and kicked Mack, who was treated for extensive facial bruises, fractures and lost teeth, and internal injuries including a lacerated liver.

Mack said she escaped out a back door when Koppenhaver went to the kitchen. She told police she feared he was fetching a sharp knife to kill her.

Koppenhaver became the object of a manhunt before he was captured Friday by U.S. marshal deputies and Simi Valley police. Police noted that Koppenhaver used to live in Simi Valley, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

A hotel guest told KTLA-TV in Los Angeles that she summoned police to the hotel after seeing a large man yelling, pushing and grabbing the hair of a woman who was trying to calm him down.

Koppenhaver made his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut in 2007 and legally changed his name in 2008. He lost his only pay-per-view bout that same year.

He fought out of San Diego for a variety of promotions and had a 14-5 record as a welterweight. He lost his last fight, in Iowa, last October.

Court records show that Koppenhaver pleaded guilty in January 2003 in Ventura County to misdemeanor resisting arrest.

In September 2011, he pleaded guilty in Las Vegas to a felony, attempted battery causing substantial bodily harm, and was sentenced to one year in the county jail, up to five years’ probation, and anger management and substance abuse counseling. A judge also ordered him to undergo steroid testing.

Defense attorney Ben Nadig represented Koppenhaver when he lost a bid to withdraw his plea in the 2011 case. Nadig said Tuesday he hadn’t been in contact with Koppenhaver about his current case.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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