BLOOMINGTON - A judge rejected suggestions Tuesday that race may have played a role in the handling of a sexual assault case against a Bloomington teen now serving 92 years for raping a woman.

Yarii Massey was 16 when he was arrested in connection with the brutal May 25, 2007, attack of a woman in her apartment on Bloomington's east side. In August, he was sentenced to a total of 92 years for the rape and multiple counts of burglary stemming from break-ins at several homes the same night.

Yarii Massey

Massey continued to maintain his innocence at Tuesday's hearing to reconsider his sentence. He testified at his trial that he and the woman engaged in consensual sex after she invited him into her home.

The victim described an abusive assault that she said occurred after Massey broke into her home.

Defense attorney Larry Spears said Massey may have fit "the myth of the young, black violent male" for authorities investigating an assault of a white woman.

The minimum sentence of 80 years would have been appropriate for the crime, said Spears. He went on to note that offenders who commit murder often receive lesser sentences than Massey.

The victim will overcome the incident and may not even remember it in 20 years, said Spears.

"Life will go on. She'll be fine," said Spears.

Judge Charles Reynard rejected Spears' arguments about the victim, calling them offensive.

The judge described Massey as "a remorseless predator" deserving of more than nine decades in prison.

Prosecutor Jennifer Patton agreed that Massey's sentence is appropriate. Spears said an appeal will be filed.