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The man who kidnapped and raped a woman in the Allegheny National Forest two years ago will spend the rest of his life in prison. 37-year-old Mike Beaulieu of Anson, Maine, was sentenced today in federal court in Erie after pleading guilty in March. On August 3, 2010, at the Kinzua Point Information Center, Beaulieu tied up a 23-year-old man with rope and duct tape, then kidnapped his 20-year-old girlfriend at gunpoint, drove her to the Red Bridge area of the forest in McKean County and raped her. U.S. District Judge Sean McLaughlin said the sentence is so long because of Beaulieu’s prior record, which includes convictions for rape, arson, escape and domestic-violence assault, among others. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Maine man has pleaded guilty to raping and kidnapping a woman in the Allegheny National Forest, and could spend the rest of his life in prison. 37-year-old Mike Beaulieu entered the plea today in federal court in Erie. On August 3, 2010, Beaulieu approached the couple as they were having a picnic lunch. At gunpoint, he tied up the 23-year-old man with duct tape, then kidnapped the 20-year-old woman, took her to the Red Bridge area of the forest in McKean County and raped her. U.S. District Judge Sean McLaughlin accepted the plea and set sentencing for July 26. McLaughlin said because Beaulieu's prior record is so lengthy his criminal-history score is the highest possible in the federal court system. The score, as well as the violent nature of his crimes, means his possible sentence will be 37 years to life in prison, according to federal sentencing guidelines. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man accused of assaulting a couple in the Allegheny National Forest, and then kidnapping and raping the woman, is expected to plead guilty today in federal court in Erie. 37-year-old Mike Beaulieu of Anson, Maine, allegedly held the couple at gunpoint on August 3, 2010, at the Kinzua Point Information Center, tied the man up with duct tape then took the woman to the Red Bridge area of the forest in McKean County. State police originally charged Beaulieu, but federal prosecutors soon took over and a grand jury indicted him on charges of aggravated sexual abuse, kidnapping, using a firearm during a violent crime and illegally possessing a firearm. Beaulieu has a felony sex offender record in Maine, which prohibits him from possessing a firearm. He was picked up about a week after the incident in New Brunswick, Canada. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man accused of kidnapping a couple and sexually assaulting the woman near the Kinzua Dam in August of last year has pleaded not guilty in federal court in Erie. 36-year-old Mike Beaulieu of Anson, Maine, was in court Tuesday on charges of aggravated sexual abuse, kidnapping, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Beaulieu is accused of approaching the woman and her boyfriend on August 3, 2010, as they ate lunch at the Kinzua Point Information Center. He allegedly restrained the woman's boyfriend, then forced the woman into his truck and drove to the Red Bridge camping area in McKean County, where he used a handgun to force her to engage in a sexual act. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested Beaulieu a week later at a campground in New Brunswick.

A hearing for rape and kidnapping suspect Mike Beaulieu scheduled for this week has been re-scheduled for next week. The 36-year-old resident of Anson, Maine is accused of kidnapping a couple near the Kinzua Dam on August 3, 2010, and raping the woman. Beaulieu is charged with aggravated sexual abuse, kidnapping, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The arraignment is now scheduled for next Wednesday in federal court in Erie.

Charges against accused kidnapper and rapist Mike Beaulieu have been dropped by Pennsylvania State Police because of the federal indictment against him. The alleged crimes happened in August on the Allegheny National Forest, which is federal jurisdiction and supercedes the state charges. It also takes the financial burden off Warren County and state taxpayers. He was indicted in September. Beaulieu, a former resident of Anson, Maine, is accused of kidnapping a woman at the Kinzua Point Information Center, then taking her to McKean County and raping her at gunpoint. He was captured August 10 in New Brunswick, Canada. On October 27, he was sentenced to three years in a Canadian prison after pleading guilty to charges of illegally possessing a weapon and illegally entering Canada. Canadian prosecutor Pierre Roussel says the extradition process is underway, but he’s not sure how long it will take.

The man accused of kidnapping and raping a woman in the Allegheny National Forest has pleaded guilty to weapons and other charges in Canada. 35-year-old Mike Beaulieu of Anson, Maine, is charged with illegally possessing a firearm, illegally crossing the border and possession of a controlled substance in that country. He’s scheduled for sentencing on October 27. While Beaulieu remains jailed in Canada, the U.S. Marshals Service is acting as a liaison between Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Pennsylvania State Police and other law enforcement agencies involved in the case that started August 3 at the Kinzua Point Information Center. Beaulieu is accused of tying up a man with rope and duct tape, kidnapping his girlfriend at gunpoint, then taking her to the Red Bridge area of McKean County and sexually assaulting her.

The man accused of raping a woman on the Allegheny National Forest has been indicted by a federal grand jury. 35-year-old Mike Beaulieu of Anson, Maine, is charged with aggravated sexual abuse, kidnapping, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On August 3, Beaulieu kidnapped a woman from the Kinzua Point Information Center, and used a handgun to force her to engage in a sexual act after taking her to a remote area of McKean County. He’s also accused of restraining the woman’s boyfriend with rope and duct tape. Beaulieu is currently being held in a Canadian prison on a weapons charge, and a hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday. He fled the country after the incident in the forest. http://www.justice.gov/usao/paw/pr/2010_september/2010_09_14_01.html

Accused kidnapper and rapist Mike Beaulieu is scheduled to appear in court in Canada next month. Beaulieu was scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday to answer charges of illegally crossing the border, illegal possession of a firearm, and possession of marijuana. The hearing didn’t take place because he is undergoing physical and mental evaluations. Authorities in the United States are building their case in connection to the August 3 rape and kidnapping in the Allegheny National Forest. They are also trying to determine if Beaulieu can be linked to unsolved crimes between the Kinzua Dam area and Maine, where Beaulieu lives. While Beaulieu remains jailed in Canada, the U.S. Marshals Service is acting as a liaison between Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Pennsylvania State Police and other law enforcement agencies involved in the case.