A Gainesville man pleaded guilty Monday to beating and strangling his live-in girlfriend in March. Donnie Jackson Irvin, 53, was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years for the death of Mary Tonya Ward, 42, on March 18. “Mr. Irvin told me over six months ago, at our very first meeting, that he wanted to take full responsibility,” defense attorney Larry Duttweiler wrote in an email.