FARGO (AP) - Convicted killer Moe Gibbs has pleaded guilty to raping a woman here in 2004.

Gibbs' attorney, Ross Brandborg, said after Monday's court hearing that his client pleaded guilty because he wanted to do what was best for his family and everyone involved.

The move spares the victim from having to testify at trial, Assistant Cass County State's Attorney Gary Delorme said.

Sentencing has been set for Dec. 20.

Gibbs, a former Barnes County jailer, was convicted this month of killing Valley City State University student Mindy Morgenstern.

Gibbs faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison when he is sentenced in the murder case on Dec. 17.

He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for rape charge. Under a plea deal, the state will recommend Gibbs serve 12 years in prison and eight years on probation, Delorme said.

He said the sentence would be served concurrently with any prison time Gibbs may get in connection with pending cases in Barnes County. Gibbs faces six felony charges alleging he sexually assaulted five female inmates while working at the Barnes County Jail.

A victim in one case said Gibbs assaulted her the morning Morgenstern was killed in her Valley City apartment.

Delorme said DNA obtained from Gibbs as part of the Valley City murder case linked Gibbs to the 2004 sexual assault.