Former deputy convicted of raping a child

News sources Associated Press and The Daily Comet Thibodaux Louisiana. A former deputy with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office (LPSO) was found guilty Friday by a 12 person jury of his peers for the crime of raping a child.

David Lewellen 34, as a result of being found guilty of the crime faces life imprisonment. Lewellen was taken into custody August 2010 after he told investigators he raped a six year old girl who is a member of his family over a period of nine months. The name of the victim and the relationship was not revealed due to privacy issues with The Daily Comet and The Courier newspapers policy.

Lewellen was indicted of aggravated rape in October 2010. Lewellen worked two periods of time with the LPSO. He was known as an average officer only getting in trouble for getting speeding tickets.

Lewellen was free on a $250,000 bond prior to the trial but after the trial concluded he was sent to the Concordia Parish prison for his protection since the prisoners at the Lafourche Parish prison were his former collegeaues and several of them testified against him in the trial.

Lewellen will face Judge Jerome Barbere to know how long he will be in prison.

Kristina Russell the district attorney said the girl now seven years old identified Lewellen as the rapist and she said she knew the difference between right and wrong. Lewellen did not testify in his trial since his attorneys believed the district attorney's case was not strong enough.

Lewellen's lawyer Damon Stentz said in closing arguements said the girl did not act like she had been raped.

Russelll replied "How was that child supposed to act?"

Lewellen's videotaped confession to detectives was shown at his trial.

Stentz said the videotape confession and the girl's testimony did not match, and that there is no evidence Lewellen raped the girl.

When the trial ended Russell was happy the jury was alert to the case and made the right decision. Stentz said his client will appeal the verdict.