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N.S. man who chained teen gets 11 years in prison

N.S. man who chained teen gets 11 years in prison

The man who helped kidnap, chain and sexually assault a teenage boy in rural Nova Scotia last year has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.

David James Leblanc, 48, is being sentenced in a Supreme Court in Bridgewater after entering guilty pleas last month in both the case of the chained teen, and another case involving child pornography charges.

The Crown and defence submitted a joint recommendation of 11 years in prison, less 258 days for time served.

Leblanc and Wayne Cunningham first grabbed national headlines last fall when a 16-year-old boy emerged from the woods in Lunenburg County and said the pair had kidnapped him and kept him chained up in a remote home.

The teen arrived at a home in Upper Chelsea, about 130 kilometres southwest of Halifax, pleading for help. He had chains wrapped around his wrists and ankles, and was wearing only a hooded sweatshirt and a hat when he was found.

Leblanc and Cunningham fled to northern Ontario. Later, Leblanc was arrested and Cunningham was found dead.

Police do not suspect foul play in the death of Cunningham.

Last month, Leblanc pleaded guilty to kidnapping, forcible confinement, sexual assault, uttering threats and breach of conditions. In another case, he pleaded guilty to sexual interference and two child pornography charges involving a two-year-old and five-year-old boy in a case that dates back to 2010.

"There is no useful place in society for this man," said the victim's mother in her victim impact statement.

A third man, John Leonard MacKean, 63, of Halifax was later charged. His accusations include sexual assault and communicating for the purposes of obtaining sexual services from a person under 18.

He has elected trial by judge and jury in Nova Scotia Supreme Court. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 25 in Bridgewater.