MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — A self-described romeo who told ladies he was a seasoned international journalist insisted he was a "womanizer" but no criminal Thursday before a Manhattan judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
Hugues-Denver Akassy, 43, an Ivory Coast native who claims roots in Paris and was homeless at the time of his arrest last year, was convicted of raping a Russian tourist in Riverside Park, and stalking and harassing an Italian art expert, a gallery director and an attorney on Nov. 7.
"You are a rapist who does not appreciate the seriousness and the violence of the actions that you took in this particular case," Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Jill Konviser said. "This isn't a case simply of poor judgment, Mr. Akassy."
Women who came forward said Akassy seemed charming and intelligent at first, but quickly turned aggressive and forceful both in person and through menacing emails and texts.
But Akassy insisted that while he "is not proud" of his philandering past and "takes responsibility for not having better judgment," he is not guilty of the crimes he was convicted of.
"I'm not a rapist. That's not a part of my DNA. I never rape anyone," he in a thick French accent when offered the chance to speak at his sentencing.
Throughout his trial, he frequently wore cloth fashioned as an ascot and was dressed in a dark blazer and tie. He testified that he had two master's degrees and was part of the White House press corps in the 1990s, claims that were never proven or confirmed.
"I lived kind of a bachelor life that I'm not proud of. I was kind of a womanizer, dating from one woman to another," Akassy said adding, "I'm not proud of it."
But he insisted he never sexually attacked anyone even though several women came forward with disturbing stories about their encounters with him.
Prosecutors said Akassy outright lied on the witness stand about who he was and what occurred with the woman he was accused of attacking and menacing.
"It is [Akassy's] violent impulses and total lack of self control and inability to sympathize with his victims that has put him here," Assistant District Attorney Jessica Troy said in arguing for him to be put away for the maximum sentence allowable, 25 years in prison.
The Russian woman he was convicted of raping, who did not appear at the trial, told prosecutors she had repeated thoughts of committing suicide as a result of the crime.
A woman he was acquitted of sexually assaulting in her building who was present told reporters afterward that she believes he would attack women again if released.
"He'll do this again as soon as he gets out, whether it's in this country or another country," the 53-year-old travel agent said. "He would do this again, and again, and again."
While she's disappointed he was not convicted of attacking her, the tearful woman was relieved to see him go to prison for a long time.
Akassy's attorney, Glenn Hardy, asked for lenient sentence and argued Akassy was telling "his version of events" on the witness stand and not committing perjury as prosecutors claimed.
During his time at Rikers Island, he was rearrested for assaulting a corrections officer, prosecutors said. That case is still pending.
