SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A judge has sentenced a Syracuse man to 97 years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman eight years ago.

Vincent Torres claims he’s innocent and says the woman initiated the sexual encounter.

But a jury in May convicted Torres of sodomy, sexual abuse and burglary. Onondaga County Judge William Walsh calls the crime the worst and ordered sentences to run consecutively. He says the woman, now 84-years-old, feels better knowing the 45-year-old Torres won’t “see the light of day” for 97 years.

The victim’s daughter says her mother has forgiven Torres.