A male Columbia graduate student declared “I know you want this” as he groped and fondled a struggling female classmate inside of the building where they both live, prosecutors alleged in Manhattan criminal court on Saturday.
Francois Barre, a 30-year-old from France, allegedly waited outside of the 19-year-old vicitm’s Morningside Drive building on Thursday afternoon and offered to help her carry groceries up to her apartment, prosecutors said.
He didn’t grab any groceries but he followed her inside of the door where he “kissed her forcefully on the [back] of her neck and then backed her against the wall and rubbed his body against her so she could not move,” Assistant District Attorney Meera Patel told the court at his arraignment.
Barre then put his hand up her dress multiple times and grabbed her buttocks and put his hand down the top of her dress and grabbed her breast, Patel said. The victim tried to push him away but was unable to do so.
“I know you want this. You taste good,” the creep told the frightened victim, according to the criminal complaint.
Patel said Barre was captured on security camera “walking into the building with the complainant and then leaving the building shortly after.”
The teen immediately reported the incident to Columbia University Safety, who then called 911. Barre was arrested outside of the building and charged with sexual assault and forcible touching.
The teen told authorities she’s terrified of Barre and of seeing him in their building — where they live on the same floor, Patel said.
The prosecution requested an order of protection and $20,000 cash bail.
Barre’s defense attorney, Amanda Barfield, said he just graduated from Columbia with a Masters degree in international relations and would be moving out of the building soon.
She said her client has forfeit his French passport and requested supervised release.
“He just wants to move out quickly,” Barfield told the court.
Judge Robert Mandelbaum agreed to supervised release and to the prosecution’s request for an order of protection to stay away from the victim.
Barre must have “no contact with her whatsoever, other than incidental contact at the building, where you currently both reside with the sole purpose of removing your belongings,” the judge said.
Outside of the courtroom, Barre was crying. He refused to speak.
“I’d rather not comment,” he told The Post.
