Homeless Man Sentenced For Rape, Robbery Spree

VALHALLA, NY — A homeless man was sentenced Tuesday for repeated sexual assault and robbery. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr., announced today that Akhim Blount, 38, of Operations Drive in Valhalla, was sentenced by Judge Susan Cacace to 20 years to life as a violent felony offender after pleading guilty to:

• three counts of Predatory Sexual Assault, class “A” Violent Felonies,
• one count of Rape in the First Degree, a class “B” Violent Felony,
• two counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, class “B” Violent Felonies,
• two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, class “D” Violent Felonies,
• two counts of Robbery in the First Degree, class “B” Violent Felonies,
• one count of Robbery in the Second Degree, a class “C” Violent Felony,
• two counts of Robbery in the Third Degree, class “D” Felonies.

Scarpino said, on Sept. 11, 2015, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Blount approached the 57-year-old female victim in the vicinity of 106 Belmont Avenue in Yonkers. He grabbed her from behind around the neck and throat, obstructing her breathing. He forced her into a yard located on Belmont Avenue and threw her to the ground.

Blount repeatedly threatened the victim by telling her that he had a knife and would cut her head off. He then demanded she take off her pants and underwear. Fearing for her life, she complied. The defendant raped her, police said. When she began to scream, the defendant covered her mouth and nose with his hand, preventing her from breathing.

Blount got off the victim, dragged her deeper into the yard toward a wooded tree line, and repeatedly sexually assaulted her, police said. He then demanded she turn over her money and other personal property. Blount told the victim not to move because if she did he would shoot her. He then left the scene with the victim’s money. The victim waited a few minutes and then called police.

On September 13, 2015 at approximately 8:15 p.m., Blount approached a 37-year-old woman just getting out of her car in the parking lot located at 801 Bronx River Road in Yonkers. He demanded she get back in the car displaying what appeared to be a handgun. The victim attempted to hand over her wallet and iPhone. That is when Blount shoved her into the front seat of her vehicle and grabbed her pants in an effort to remove them. The victim struggled with the defendant as he forcibly groped her genitalia. That is when she broke free, jumped out of the car and ran to a Good Samaritan who lent her a phone to call police.

On Sept. 23, 2015, at approximately 7:30 p.m., the victim, a 22 year old woman, was sitting in her car at the Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers when Blount jumped into her front seat. He grabbed the victim by the back of the head and by her arm and violently pulled her towards him in the front seat. He told her not to move threatening that if she did, he would cut her with a knife. Terrified, the victim struggled with the defendant and managed to run from the car to the safety of a Good Samaritan. The defendant grabbed her purse containing her wallet, her iPhone and sneakers that she had just purchased.

Yonkers Police arrested the defendant on Sept. 23, 2015, in reference to the Cross County Shopping incident. An intensive investigation which included DNA evidence resulted in the defendant being linked to the previous incidents.

The defendant was remanded into the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections.

On June 28, 2006, the defendant was sentenced to 10 years in state prison and five years post release supervision for Rape in the First Degree, a class “B” violent Felony.

On July 13, 2005, Blount raped an 8-year-old girl in her residence after observing her mother leave for work. The child let Blount into the apartment because she thought the defendant was a repairman who was scheduled to do work that day.

Blount was required to register as a sex offender under the New York State Sex Offender’s Registry Act — commonly known as “Meghan’s Law” — on completion of his sentence for the July 13, 2005, rape.

He will have to do so again after he serves the sentence imposed upon him today.

Photo credit: Westchester District Attorney’s Office.