Prosecutors say they will seek a habitual offender bill when Michael Paul Guillory is scheduled to be sentenced in September.

First, though, the court will hear a request for acquittal and a request for a new trial.

Guillory, 32, was convicted of forcible rape and indecent behavior with a juvenile in April. The jury unanimously found that Guillory raped a 13-year-old girl and molested her 12-year-old friend during a sleepover in October 2007. Guillory was in the home as a friend of one of the girl’s mother.

He was to be sentenced Friday, but the hearing was continued. The motions for acquittal and a new trial will be heard Sept. 24. If those aren’t granted, Judge David Ritchie will sentence Guillory on Sept. 26.

Because Guillory was previously convicted of two felonies, prosecutors will seek to have him sentenced as a repeat offender. Guillory was convicted of oral sexual battery and aggravated battery in April 2002, when he was 20 years old. He received a 13-year suspended sentence and was put on five years probation.

A habitual offender bill “raises the minimum sentence and extends the maximum,” Lori Nunn, a prosecutor with the Calcasieu District Attorney’s Office, said. “(Guillory) had a chance to redeem himself and he’s shown he’s going to be a career criminal, and in particular, a career sex offender, so we’re looking to get the harshest sentence possible.”

Antoon said he will ask Judge David Ritchie to throw out Guillory’s conviction because of a lack of physical evidence.

“I believe the evidence is insufficient to support a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt and because of errors made at the trial, he deserves a new trial,” Antoon said.

Nunn disagreed.

“There was more than sufficient evidence to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,” the prosecutor said. “The jury verdict speaks for itself.”

Guillory also has a previous conviction in federal court. On Feb. 16, 2006, he pleaded no contest to possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. In July 2006, Judge Patricia Minaldi sentenced him to 21 months in prison and three years supervised release.(MGNonline)