A 39-year-old man has been sentenced to nearly 29 years in prison for stabbing and bludgeoning his girlfriend to death in a home in Spokane Valley.

Corey M. Burnam initially told deputies he killed 29-year-old Alicia C. Sweet because she told him she had given him the AIDS virus. He later pleaded not guilty in Sweet’s death, but a jury convicted him of first-degree murder.

Spokane Valley deputies were called to the residence at 609 S. Howe Road for a domestic violence call on the evening of Jan. 29. They found Sweet unresponsive and bleeding from stab wounds on her throat. She died at the scene despite treatment efforts by deputies and paramedics.

Burnam also bludgeoned her head with the barrel of a 12-gauge shotgun, according to court documents. He was arrested the same night after deputies found him hiding behind a nearby trailer and loosed a police dog.

Burnam and Sweet had been living together as guests of another couple in the home. One of the residents heard thumping noises from the bedroom the couple shared and then saw Burnam walk out with a knife and bloody clothing, according to court documents.

Burnam told deputies he and Sweet were using heroin together on the evening of her death. He said Sweet got angry when he used the last of their heroin, punched him in the eye and came after him with a knife, according to court documents.

He told deputies, “You guys don’t understand, (she) tried to do me in.”

Burnam’s sentencing paperwork notes he “has a chemical dependency that has contributed to the offense.” He also was found guilty of interfering with reporting of domestic violence.

Burnam remained in the Spokane County Jail on Monday pending transfer to a state prison. He’ll be given credit for time served in the jail – 324 days as of Monday.

Burnam’s criminal history spans Spokane, Douglas, Grant, Okanogan and Chelan counties. He has convictions for domestic violence, driving under the influence, reckless driving, attempting to elude police vehicles, obstructing officers, drug trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm.