SAN BERNARDINO >> A self-proclaimed white supremacist convicted on 16 counts was sentenced Thursday to 248 years to life in prison.

Thomas Joseph Murphy, 46, of Crestline, was convicted in the 2009 kidnapping, assault and battery of three women, animal cruelty and dissuading a witness.

In his trial, Murphy made the decision to act as his own attorney, but after several incidents of witness intimidation he was ordered to be represented by an actual attorney, court records show.

Murphy’s attorney filed a motion asking the judge for a new trial based on what he called was a violation of his clients right to represent himself. During the motion for a new trial, it was revealed that Murphy is now engaged to convicted murderer Carmen Montelongo, who was sentenced this week to 26 years to life for cutting into pieces her Diamond Bar boyfriend.

The request for a new trial was denied.

Murphy had gone to a home in Crestline searching for his girlfriend in 2009. He forced a woman into the house, threatened to kill her and four other people if they tried to leave, court records show.

One woman tried to escape and Murphy beat her and another woman who came to her aid with a hammer.

One woman eventually escaped and law enforcement were contacted. Murphy fled the home before authorities could take him into custody.

Police found him the next day in Fullerton and chased Murphy on the 91 Freeway at speeds as high as 100 mph. Deputies at the time of his arrest said he slammed into several vehicles after getting off the freeway, and eventually jumped out of the vehicle.

He was captured by Fullerton police.

San Bernardino County sheriff’s Detective Jeremiah MacKay was lead investigator in this case, but prosecutors were never able to question him. MacKay was shot and killed in a raging gunbattle with rogue ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner in February 2013.

During his trial Murphy asked an attorney to post an ad in a local newspaper that would name the victims in his case and describing in negative light so as to intimidate them and not show up to testify against him, according to testimony.

“This is the worst case of witness intimidation I’ve seen as a prosecutor,” Deputy District Attorney Denise Yoakum said. “He sent his Aryan friends to try and intimidate the witnesses.”

One of Murphy’s victims was in court to read a statement.

“God loves you and I have completely forgiven you,” Kristen Westenhaver said in court. “I’m no longer a victim, I’m a survivor.”

Murphy was allowed to make a statement to the court as well. He looked at Westenhaver and apologized for what he had done.

“I’m sorry I took advantage of you and your weaknesses,” he said. “Inspite of what I may or may not have done I still live with it. I’m heading to prison for the rest of my life and I’ll battle because I can’t be broken.”

Murphy may not be able to be broken as he said but on Tuesday, testimony revealed that he found love in the correctional system while awaiting his fate.

Montelongo, said she and Murphy, a self-proclaimed neo-nazi, are now engaged to be married.

Montelongo was arrested in May 2011 in Ontario with a trash can of body parts belonging to her boyfriend, Samuel Wiggins Jr..

She was sentenced last week to 26 years to life for the murder of Wiggins.