Georgia man sentenced to up to 49 years for kidnapping and rape in Henderson County

HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — A Georgia man has been sentenced to at least 49 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple sexual offenses, according to a news release from the district attorney’s office.

On Dec. 18, Aaron Marquez Boyd, 36, from Girard, Georgia, pleaded guilty to first-degree forcible rape, first-degree sexual offense, first-degree kidnapping, and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

As previously reported, the offense took place in February 2022 when the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of kidnapping and rape that occurred on Howard Gap Road near Highway 64 in Hendersonville.

MAN WANTED FOR RAPE, KIDNAPPING AT GUNPOINT IN HENDERSON CO. ARRESTED IN MISSISSIPPI

According to the news releases, the investigation report said a 24-year-old female was travelling through Henderson County on Interstate 26 when she exited to use the restroom at a Hardee’s restaurant off Howard Gap Road.

As she returned to her car, Boyd approached her, displaying a gun. The release says Boyd told the woman to get in her car or he would shoot her.

As previously reported, Boyd forced the victim to drive them both to a vacant lot near the intersection of Howard Gap Road and US-64, where he raped her.

After the assault, the suspect fled, taking the victim’s vehicle.

According to the release, after the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department watched surveillance footage at the Hardee’s restaurant, they took note of an abandoned grey Ford Taurus, which deputies later determined was Boyd’s vehicle.

On Feb. 13, 2022, Boyd was located and arrested in Gulfport, Mississippi.

MAN SENTENCED AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO RAPE, SEXUAL ASSAULT OF HIS UNDERAGE RELATIVE

Boyd was initially charged with the following:

• First degree kidnapping
• First degree forcible rape
• Robbery with a dangerous weapon

According to the release, Boyd has been sentenced to a minimum of 276 months and a maximum of 392 months for the first-degree forcible rape charge, a minimum term of 72 months and a maximum term of 99 months for first-degree kidnapping, and a minimum term of 72 months and a maximum term of 99 months for robbery with a dangerous weapon.

All charges will be served consecutively for a total sentence of a minimum of 35 years and a maximum of 49 years, and Boyd must also register as a sex offender upon release.