A Palm Coast man convicted of kidnapping, aggravated assault and armed assault was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison.

Major Harris III was found guilty on felony charges in Flagler County stemming from a kidnapping of a Palm Coast woman and her children.

The 35-year-old victim told Flagler County deputies that Harris kidnapped her and her two children in November 2010 after she tried to break off a rocky relationship with him, deputies said.

The victim told deputies that Harris became angry over the break up. Deputies said Harris grabbed the victim, throwing her down on the floor before pinning her down and pouring soda into her mouth until she choked.

Deputies said Harris then grabbed the woman by the throat and attempted to strangle her. Deputies said she was able to get free of him and flee into a bedroom, but Harris stormed in with a handgun, pushed it into her eye and pulled the trigger, telling the victim he was going to kill her.

The gun jammed and did not fire, deputies said.

Harris told the victim he would kill her and her children, then-ages 6 and 10, if she tried to leave, the victim told deputies. He then forced the woman to have sex with him, deputies said.

Harris took the victim and her children at gunpoint to Deland, deputies said. The victim said that while fearing for her life and that of her children, she reassured Harris throughout the day that they could work things out and get back together, deputies said.

At one point, she convinced Harris to let her go into a convenience store to get food for the children and headache medicine, deputies said. Once inside the store, the victim called the Deland Police Department, who arrived and were able to arrest Harris, deputies said.

Deland police arrested Harris on an outstanding warrant and a charge of carrying a concealed weapon.