ACCESS driver sentenced for raping disabled passenger

A former ACCESS van driver who pleaded guilty to repeatedly raping a disabled passenger will serve six to 16 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of probation, an Allegheny County judge ruled Wednesday.

Daniel Burrelli, 56, of Oakmont pleaded guilty Tuesday before Common Pleas Judge Jill E. Rangos to two counts each of raping a mentally disabled person, involuntary deviant sexual intercourse with a person with a mental disability, aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault. He was charged in March 2015 with repeatedly raping a 53-year-old woman he regularly drove to Mercy Behavioral in Ross for about 18 months.

The victim, who officials say has Down syndrome, is legally blind and has the intellectual development of a 4-year-old, was unable to testify. But in a letter transcribed by her sister-in-law and read to Rangos at Burrelli's sentencing, she said she was shamed by what he did to her. The Tribune-Review does not identify the victims of sexual assault.

“I don't want him to do this ever again,” the letter read. “I want to give him a knuckle sandwich.”

The victim lived with her sister-in-law's family, who described her as cheerful, outgoing and always willing to attend family functions prior to the rapes. But afterward, she was withdrawn, sometimes even refusing to come out of her room for dinner. Her family said they are wracked with guilt over their failure to protect her.

“I will never forgive myself for handing her over to this man,” her sister-in-law said. “He snuffed out her light. He destroyed her.”

Rangos noted that Burrelli has mental health problems, and said she wanted his sentence to be long enough to make sure he undergoes treatment and can be kept under supervision if he needs more.

He will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

“I don't think it's possible for me, or for anyone else without a crystal ball, to determine when (Burrelli) will be safe to return to the community,” said Rangos. “There's certainly something wrong with a human being who lacks the instinct to care for and protect someone who can't protect herself.”

Matthew Santoni is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412 391 0927 or msantoni@tribweb.com.