Battle Creek Jury Returns Guilty Verdict In Rape Case

A jury is declaring 35 year old Thomas Swarmes of Battle Creek guilty of rape. He’s now facing life in prison at his sentencing in early December. Swarmes was charged with the sexual assault against an 8 year old girl…11 years ago. The victim – now 19, testified about the assaults during the trial in Calhoun County Circuit Court.

The Battle Creek Enquirer reports jurrors deliberated about four hours before returning the verdicts on three counts of first degree - and two counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct.The case was developed through the Calhoun County Sexual Assault Rape Kit investigations. That started several years ago through the Michigan Attorney General’s office after state investigators discovered more than 1,800 untested rape kits throughout Michigan.