DAMION SINCLAIR GIVES his opening statement to the jury. In the background is Dickinson County Deputy Clerk Brenda Buchner, and in the foreground is Iron Mountain Police Sgt. Joseph Dumais. (Nikki Younk/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — A 41-year-old Iron Mountain man accused of choking and beating a woman last year has decided to represent himself at his jury trial this week in Dickinson County Circuit Court.

Damion Antonique-Don-Tay Sinclair at a motion hearing Friday said he disagreed with his court-appointed attorney Michael Scholke over defense strategy and wanted to exercise his right to go to trial on his own.

However, Judge Mary Barglind appointed Scholke to act as Sinclair’s standby counsel to help in legal procedure questions.

A jury of eight women and five men were selected Monday before Dickinson County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kristin Kass and Sinclair made their opening statements and one witness took the stand.

Sinclair faces assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation, a 10-year felony; interfering with electronic communications, a two-year felony; and a habitual offender-fourth notice, which increases the maximum penalty on the assault charge to life and the interfering charge to 15 years.

Sinclair attacked a woman with whom he had a relationship May 31 in Iron Mountain, Kass claimed. He choked her until she couldn’t breathe, punched and kicked her, and then ruined her cell phone when she tried to call for help, Kass said.

A friend of the woman, Brandon Arenas, testified she came into his store that evening crying, with blood on her face and a hand print bruise on her neck. Even though she initially hesitated in giving information, Arenas said she eventually told him, “it was Damion.”

Arenas testified he was the one to call police because the woman’s phone was broken and she was hesitant.

Sinclair cautioned the jury to pay attention to the testimony, as they would hear two different versions of the incident. 

Although he didn’t offer his version during opening statements, he implied during jury selection the woman simply may have wanted to get him in trouble and the prosecutor’s office may have overcharged the incident.

Sinclair also questioned Arenas’ credibility, asking if he just wanted to get back into a relationship with the woman and why he was the one to contact police.

Up to 17 witnesses in total, including police officers and medical staff, could take the stand over the next two days.

Kass was scheduled to continue her case this morning.