Man sentenced in connection with

A Lenoir City man entered a guilty plea in Loudon County Criminal Court Tuesday, May 31, and was sentenced to serve 15 years with the Tennessee Department of Corrections.

Jason Kenneth Rogers, 37, pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated rape in connection with an incident that took place in and around Lenoir City Dec. 31, 2009.

Charges of especially aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault were dismissed by the court in exchange for the plea. Rogers was represented by attorney Lindsey Lander.

Criminal Court Judge E. Eugene Eblen said Rogers will serve 15 years without the possibility of parole and upon his release will be registered and monitored as a sex offender.

A jury pool of prospective jurors was sent from the courtroom as the plea entry was heard.

The former employee of the News-Herald was arrested Jan. 1, 2010, after a woman reported to law enforcement authorities that she had been kidnapped at knifepoint and forced to enter the News-Herald office building.

The offense took place after hours when the building was empty.

The identity of the woman was not released.