Busted In Acadiana

Danny Lee Rankin pled guilty to two separate counts and was sentenced to a total of 35 years in prison.

Before trial began, Rankin was about to be tried for two counts of aggravated rape. He entered a plea of not guilty on both charges.

But then he changed his mind and entered a guilty plea to lesser charges.

On one rape charge, Rankin pled guilty on the charge of forcible rape. He received a 20 years of hard labor sentence with credit for time served since 2007.

Then he entered a guilty plea for the molestation of a juvenile.

He received a 15-year sentence on that charge.

Both sentences will run concurrent.

Once he is out of prison, he has to register as a sex offender for life.