Victim Testimony In Battle Creek Rape Trial
More testimony is expected today in the Battle Creek trial of a 35 year man charged with sexual assault. Thomas Swarmes of Battle Creek is charged with the rape of a young girl 11 years ago.
Now 19, the victim is telling the court about repeated incidents of assault. Much of the testimony has been graphic. The woman described both the assaults and her feelings then and now.
The Battle Creek Enquirer reports the victim agreed with Defense Attorney John Sullivan that she’d said nothing happened during earlier interviews. Sullivan has challenged some of the victims statements to investigators. Both the victim and the accused are described as intellectually disabled. The trial continues today in the Calhoun County Circuit courtroom of Judge John Hallacy. Swarmes is facing up to life in prison if convicted. he case developed from Calhoun County Sexual Assault Rape Kit investigations as part of a state-wide effort begun three years ago by the Michigan Attorney General’s office. State investigators at that time found more than 1,600 untested rape kits.