Man acquitted in Georgia rape cases found guilty in N.C.

AUGUSTA - A man was found guilty of raping a woman in North Carolina in March, less than a month after he was acquitted in three Richmond County, Ga. rapes. <br> <br> Aaron LeBlanc, 20, was sentenced late Monday to a minimum of 54 years in prison and a maximum of 68 years. Jurors found him guilty of raping a Gastonia, N.C. woman in her apartment March 18. <br> <br> When he walked out of court a free man in February after being acquitted of raping three Augusta women, LeBlanc should have been on the straight and narrow path, Judge Jesse Caldwell told him Monday in a North Carolina court. <br> <br> ``At least for more than three weeks, Mr. LeBlanc,&#39;&#39; Caldwell said. ``The public needs to be protected from predators like Mr. LeBlanc. The rights of others mean nothing to you.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The jury deliberated for more than five hours before convicting LeBlanc of first-degree rape, first-degree sexual offense, second-degree kidnapping, common law robbery, assault with a deadly weapon with serious injury, and breaking and entering. <br> <br> Just before sentencing he said, ``I just want everyone to know I maintain my innocence. I did not do this.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> LeBlanc plans to appeal, according to his attorney, Rick Beam. <br> <br> During the Georgia trial, LeBlanc was accused of raping a college student in May 1999 while another Georgia woman said she was raped in November 1999. The third Georgia woman said she was raped in May 2000. <br> <br> Late in 2001, LeBlanc was prepared to plead guilty to raping the three women. But a judge rejected the plea, saying a proposed sentence of 20 years was too lenient. LeBlanc was acquitted in Richmond County, Ga., on Feb. 21.