The selma times-journal

A Selma man was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Friday after pleading guilty to raping an 11-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl more than a year apart.

Leon Barley Jr., whose rape charges dated back to the summer of 2003, made his plea before Circuit Court Judge Marvin Wiggins.

Barley, 25, was first arrested in May of 2003 on charges that he took an 11-year-old girl to a local motel and raped her.

More than a year later &045;after Barley was released from jail on bond &045; he raped a 13-year-old girl, according to Assistant District Attorney Shannon Lynch. Lynch said the second rape occurred on June 11, 2004.

Wiggins sentenced Barley to 20 years in prison for the 2003 rape and 15 years for the one in 2004.

District Attorney Michael Jackson praised Lynch for her work in bringing the serial rapist to justice.

Jackson said Barley will be eligible for parole in five years.