NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — A Norfolk man sentenced to life in prison for the stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend has been denied his request to be released from prison.

Madison County District Judge Mark Johnson on Wednesday denied Leodan Alarcon-Chavez’s request for post-conviction relief.

Alarcon-Chavez was convicted in 2011 of first-degree murder and other counts in the March 2010 death of 30-year-old Maria Villareal. Prosecutors say he stabbed Villareal in her apartment while he was awaiting trial for threatening to kill her several months earlier.

Among other things, Alarcon-Chavez alleged in his latest request that his attorney was ineffective and that prosecutors engaged in misconduct.

The judge said in his ruling that Alarcon-Chavez failed to prove some allegations and that others were without merit.