A nurse working in the county jail interviews a man who recently committed a violent sexual assault against a woman. Which comment from this perpetrator is most likely?

A. "I have been depressed for a long time" is a statement that reflects personal feelings but does not specifically demonstrate a common response from perpetrators of violent sexual assault. While depression can affect anyone, it is not directly related to the perpetrator's denial or justification for the crime. B. "She dressed provocatively" is a common victim-blaming tactic used by some perpetrators to justify their behavior, but it still focuses on the victim’s actions rather than taking responsibility. It may reflect the perpetrator's need to rationalize their actions, but it is not as explicit in denying responsibility as statement C. C. "It is not my fault she was asking for it" is the most likely statement from a perpetrator of sexual assault, as it directly reflects blame-shifting and a lack of accountability for the assault. This type of statement is commonly used by individuals attempting to justify their actions by suggesting that the victim provoked or deserved the assault, a typical defense mechanism in cases of sexual violence. D. "Was under the influence of alcohol" is also a common defense used by perpetrators to attempt to excuse their actions by claiming they were impaired. While alcohol use is often involved in assaults, it does not carry the same blame-shifting implication as statement C.