Rapist gets life after sudden plea of guilty

From the Boston Herald:

WORCESTER - A Worcester man has been sentenced to life in prison after unexpectedly pleading guilty in the middle of his trial to beating and raping a city woman five years ago. Anthony M. Leo, 36, was sentenced by a Superior Court judge Wednesday to concurrent life terms on two counts of aggravated rape. He will be eligible for parole in 15 years. Leo had raised an insanity defense to charges stemming from the April 22, 2002, incident, but suddenly pleaded guilty as his trial was about to enter its third day. Leo’s decision was motivated by a desire to do “the right thing” and accept responsibility for his crimes, said his lawyer, Margaret Guzman, according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. By changing his plea, Guzman told the Telegram & Gazette, Leo was telling the court: “I did it, I’m responsible. I will take the chance that I will never walk free again.”