Associated Press - November 30, 2009 10:34 PM ET

WHEATON, Ill. (AP) - A man linked to the rape of a Downers Grove woman through DNA found on his jailhouse toothbrush has pleaded guilty to the October 2006 crime.

After entering his plea Monday in DuPage County Circuit Court, 24-year-old Larry Barrett of Summit was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

By the time the police investigation led to Barrett, he was in a jail in downstate Jefferson County on an unrelated charge. Police had DNA samples from the victim, but Barrett refused to allow them to collect a sample from him.

Authorities then took Barrett's toothbrush. They say it contained DNA that matched the sample taken from the victim.

Barrett's public defender argued the search was illegal, but Circuit Court Judge Michael Burke ruled the DNA evidence would be admissible.

Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com

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