Northshore immigrant faces life sentence after child rape conviction

Sentencing is next for a Northshore man found guilty of raping a little girl.

The investigation began when the child and her mother fled to a Slidell church to escape the abuse.

"A St. Tammany Parish jury deliberated for approximately 90 minutes before finding 41-year-old Jose Alberto Moreno of Slidell guilty of first degree rape of a child, sexual battery of a child and domestic abuse battery by strangulation," Assistant District Attorney Bruce Dearing said in a news release.

The jury saw a recording of the preteen victim describing how Moreno repeatedly raped her.

"The young girl explained that when she came home from school each day, often it was only the defendant there because her mother would still be at work.  The girl would sit at the kitchen table to do her homework.  On multiple occasions, the defendant would lift her from her chair and carry her into her bedroom. He would then lay her on her bed and rape her.  At various times, he told her he was doing this to train her so that when she got older, she would know what to do.  He also warned her that she would get in trouble if she told anyone what they were doing. "

Dearing says DNA evidence supported the child's testimony.

The investigation began when the victim and her mother fled to a church on Old Spanish Trail in Slidell, where clergy called cops.

The child's mother said that her boyfriend also attacked and strangled her.

Moreno, an immigrant from Nicaragua, testified through and interpreter. He insisted the victims were lying. He also talked about fleeing the Ortega regime to escape oppression in Nicaragua.

Sentencing is set for October 9th.

"First degree rape carries a mandatory life sentence."