CANDO - A man sentenced to prison for killing his former girlfriend has filed a notice of appeal.

Steven Torkelsen, 54, was sentenced last month to 20 years in prison for the death of Rebecca Flaa, 48, whose body was found burning in a ditch near Cando last year.

Court officials said he agreed to an Alford plea, in which a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence to convict him. He reserved the right to appeal over such issues as the admission of biological evidence found in the back seat of his vehicle and whether information of prior convictions should be allowed at trial.

Torkelsen filed a notice of appeal last week with the court in Towner County.

Authorities said earlier that Torkelsen had dated Flaa and that the two had lived together. They said Flaa appeared to have died of extensive head injuries before her body was set on fire.