Lake Charles, Louisiana - A Lake Charles man will spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted of first degree rape involving a young child.

Josue M. Soto-Rodriguez, 31, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, received a life sentence from Judge Lee Hoffoss on April 17 following his conviction earlier this month. A jury found Soto-Rodriguez guilty as charged on April 1 after deliberating the case.

According to court documents, Soto-Rodriguez forced a six-year-old victim to perform oral sex on him in 2022. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief of Litigation Taylor Alexander and Assistant District Attorney Kadence Huber representing the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney's Office.

First degree rape in Louisiana carries mandatory life imprisonment.

The conviction comes amid ongoing efforts by Louisiana law enforcement agencies to aggressively prosecute crimes against children.

Local support resources are available for child victims of sexual abuse through the Children's Advocacy Center and similar organizations that provide trauma-informed care and therapy services.