A jury has found New Canaan resident John Michael Farren guilty of attempted murder for attacking his wife in 2010.

The victim, Mary Margaret Farren, testified that her husband had tried to strangle her and beat her with a flashlight in their home after she filed for divorce in 2010.

As News 12 has reported, Farren chose not to attend any of the testimony in his trial as a way of protesting the two attorneys appointed to represent him. However, he did return to the courtroom today for the verdict.

Farren had served as a deputy White House attorney under President George W. Bush.

Farren will be sentenced on Sept. 11 with the potential for a maximum sentence of 50 years behind bars.