A sexual predator who attacked seven women over a four-month period in North Park was sentenced Friday to 57 years to life in state prison.
David Angelo Drake II, 24, pleaded guilty in February to numerous counts, including assault with intent to commit rape and sexual penetration by force. He also admitted that he tried to escape while being brought to court.
Family members said Drake was a good man whose mental illness hadn't been properly diagnosed. They asked the victims to forgive the defendant.
But one victim, who said Drake broke her nose, took her underwear off and tried to rape her, said she was "appalled" by the request for forgiveness.
"You do not have power over me," she told Drake. "Keep my name out of your prayers. When you die, I will spit on your grave."
Another victim who was attacked and beaten in the face said she doesn't feel safe anymore and was "angry, confused and devastated" by what happened.
"I will never forget what you have done," she told Drake.
Another woman who was attacked and knocked senseless told the defendant, "What you did to me changed the course of my life."
Yet another victim who was thrown down and sexually assaulted near her home said the attack deeply hurt her mother, who was scared for her daughter's safety until she died several months ago.
"You (expletive) up," the woman told the defendant. "You actually broke me but only for awhile. I am thriving despite what you did to me. Good luck to us both."
Before he was sentenced, Drake — who had no prior record — apologized for his actions.
"I pray that these women are able to heal," the defendant said. "What I did was wrong. No one deserves to go through what I put these seven women through."
Images of the suspect in the assault series were made public in late August 2014, leading to a tip that resulted in Drake's arrest.
Drake told a detective that he was a "sexual deviant" and that the purpose of the attacks — which occurred between April 30 and Aug. 28, 2014 — was to digitally penetrate the victims' private areas, prosecutors said.
DNA linked Drake to the assaults, and a cell phone belonging to one of the victims was found during a search of the defendant's car, according to authorities.
