SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE Man receives 22 years in jail for raping four girls

Copeland's lawyer said years of drug abuse affected his behavior.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Darryl Copeland said he doesn't know what possessed him to repeatedly rape four young girls.
"He's going to have a long time to think about it," said Copeland's attorney, Anthony P. Meranto.
Copeland, 39, of West Chalmers Avenue, was sentenced to 22 years in prison Friday by Judge Jack Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. He had pleaded guilty in May to seven counts of rape, each a first-degree felony.
Sentencing was delayed until Friday because the judge had ordered a background check on Copeland.
Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Krueger said Copeland began sexually assaulting the first victim in 1996, and eventually assaulted the other girls over the years through 2003. In each case, he was living with the victims' mothers.
The victims ranged in age from 6 to 12, Krueger said.
Looking for an answer
"I don't know what it is that pushes somebody over the line and causes him to do something so drastic as what Darryl did to these little girls," Meranto said. "I think years of substance abuse had something to do with it."
Copeland said he's been addicted to drugs and alcohol for 22 years and has been trying to quit. He apologized to the victims and their families.
"It is not my choice to hurt anybody," he said, speaking softly. "I ask God to have mercy on my soul."
Judge Durkin said Copeland preyed on the "helpless victims" who were "seemingly safe in their own homes."
Copeland was originally charged with 10 counts of rape and could have been imprisoned for life had he been convicted at trial. As part of a plea agreement with the prosecutor's office, three counts and all the life specifications were dismissed.
Another case
In an unrelated case, 36-year-old Michael D. Ryser of Hilton Avenue pleaded guilty to one count of gross sexual imposition. He could get up to five years in prison, but Krueger recommended that he be placed on probation for three years. Judge James C. Evans ordered a background check before he imposes a sentence.
Krueger said Ryser got into bed with his live-in girlfriend's 9-year-old daughter on March 15, got on top of her and began making sexual movements. Ryser was naked, but the girl, who was lying on her stomach, was dressed, Krueger said.
Defense attorney Dennis DiMartino said Ryser had taken some of his girlfriend's prescription anti-seizure medicine to help him sleep. He said Ryser had an "adverse reaction" to the medicine and didn't realize what he was doing.