Man pleads guilty to rape at Carolina Beach motel

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — A Duplin County man is headed to prison for at least 22 years after pleading guilty to the rape of a woman at a motel.

In March, John Thomas Barnette, 49, raped a 24-year-old woman at the Drifters Reef Motel on N. Lake Park Boulevard. Witnesses heard the woman screaming for help and Barnette hitting her inside a room. After he refused to stop, police had to kick down the door to save her from the brutal attack. She had visible injuries and went to the hospital.

Barnette was set to go to trial next week, but pleaded guilty today to second degree rape and kidnapping. He was sentenced to between 22 and more than 32 years in prison. When released, he will also have to register as a sex offender and will be subject to satellite-based monitoring for the rest of his life.