A judge sentenced an outspoken police critic and self-described constitutional advocate to more than 17 years in prison Thursday for breaking into the home of a woman he’d been stalking and holding her against her will.

Douglas County District Judge Michael Malone said Dale E. McCormick caused “serious emotional torment” to the victim for years by failing to leave her alone when she declined his romantic ad-vances.

“He … showed through minutiae and memory that he clung on and remembered moves of this woman that happened years ago,” Malone said. “He observed her every motion at times.”

McCormick, who represented himself at trial, is known for regularly videotaping traffic stops while cursing at police — an activity he describes as a protest against racial profiling. He claimed the charges were the result of a conspiracy that included police, prosecutors and the victim.

But prosecutor Jacqueline Spradling said only one person was responsible for McCormick’s trouble: McCormick himself.

“He is what he hates. He is dishonest, he is abusive and he is manipulative,” Spradling said.

A jury convicted McCormick earlier this year of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary and aggravated intimidation of a witness. The incident happened Feb. 16, 2003, at the woman’s home in the 1300 block of New Hampshire Street.

McCormick, 33, declined to speak in court when Malone asked if there was anything he wanted to say before sentencing. Malone sentenced him to 16 years and three months for aggravated kidnapping, plus 18 months for intimidation. A 32-month burglary sentence will run concurrently with the other sentences.

Afterward, McCormick walked out of the courtroom escorted by deputies, an expanding file folder tucked under one arm.

Before handing down the sentence, Malone rejected a motion by McCormick seeking a new trial. McCormick had alleged a number of events caused an unfair trial, such as Spradling turning to him during her closing argument and shouting, “Get over it!”

Malone said McCormick’s trial wasn’t perfect, but he said it was fair.

McCormick is being held in the Douglas County Jail and faces trial this summer on marijuana charges stemming from a search of his home after his kidnapping arrest.

Brief: Appeals court upholds ruling against cop critic (10-4-03) Lawsuits cost city thousands to defend (7-20-03) Opinion: Watchdog group a bad idea (7-13-03) Devoted to policing the police (4-29-03)