Child Rape Victim Will Be Allowed To Testify

UPDATE: A child rape victim can testify against his alleged attacker, according to a Lafayette Parish judge.

Conwell Cormier allegedly raped the now six-year-old child in January 2013 and exposed the child to the HIV virus.

Judge Marilyn Castle also continued the case until Nov. 17 in order to give Cormier's defense time to prepare for questioning.

ORIGINAL April 11, 2013: A man who was already accused earlier this month of raping a child is now facing additional charges that he may have exposed that child to the HIV virus.

Capt. Kip Judice with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office said 29-year-old Conway Cormier was arrested April 1 on charges of aggravated rape following a three-month investigation into the alleged wrongdoing.

"During the course of the investigation," Judice said, "a determination was made that he had exposed that child during that assault to the HIV virus and...additionally charged with intentional exposure of the AIDS virus."

Judice could not say if the child had been tested for the virus due to state and federal laws protecting the privacy of the child, though he did say Cormier was tested and the results are pending.

Cormier faces life in prison on the aggravated rape charge, Judice said.

The alleged rape happened on Beau Basin Road, Judice said.