Georgia women go to N.C. to stand by rape victim

GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLINA - Two women who accused their former boyfriend of raping them in Georgia have traveled to North Carolina to support a woman who is testifying against the man, also accused of attacking her. <br> <br> Nineteen-year-old Elena Aceves and 18-year-old Carmella Dent went to Gastonia from Georgia Thursday for the trial of accused rapist Aaron LeBlanc. They have allowed their names to be used in media reports. <br> <br> A jury in Richmond County, Georgia, found LeBlanc innocent on February 21 of raping Aceves, Dent and a third woman. LeBlanc now is on trial in North Carolina, accused of raping a 24-year-old neighbor in March in a Gastonia apartment complex. <br> <br> Aceves, a college student, accused LeBlanc of raping her in May 1999 while Dent said she was raped in November 1999. The third Georgia woman said she was raped in May 2000. <br> <br> That woman also is expected to attend some of the testimony. Dent said she expected to remain until a verdict is reached. Aceves said she couldn&#39;t attend the entire trial, but wanted to be present for the woman&#39;s testimony, if LeBlanc takes the stand and for the verdict. <br> <br> Aceves and Dent said they think the fact they dated LeBlanc caused jurors to doubt their story.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/11/201793