A Rockland County jury has found a Garnerville man guilty of strangling his girlfriend.

Nixon Bourguignon, 28, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Shannon Coleman. The jury rejected Bourguignon's defense that he was sleepwalking and under the influence of the sleep aid Ambien when he strangled Coleman in their Garnerville apartment in May 2014.

During closing arguments, defense attorney David Goldstein said that Bourguignon killed Nelson with his hands but not his mind because of the sleep aid. The jury ultimately did not believe that explanation. They accepted the prosecution's contention that Bourguignon was angry because Coleman was ending the relationship.

Bourguignon faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. He has been in custody since his arrest.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 5, 2016. Bourguignon's lawyer says he will appeal the verdict.