Somerset man sentenced to life with possible parole after 20 years

Yahoo

13-03-2025

A Somerset man charged with several sexual offenses against a minor was sentenced Thursday to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years.
Donovan Burdine, 53, was sentenced in Pulaski County Circuit Court on charged that include first-degree Rape (Victim Under 12) and first-degree Sodomy (Victim Under 12).
During the sentencing hearing, Commonwealth's Attorney David Dalton read from a report which stated that the victim was around 8 years old when the abuse first began.
Dalton had recommended to the court a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
Last November, Burdine submitted what is called an 'open plea' of guilty, meaning that he did not accept the plea agreement that was presented to him, and instead was 'throwing himself on the mercy of the Court.'
Before sentencing, Burdine told Circuit Judge Teresa Whitaker that he wanted to say he was sorry to the victim and those affected.
He also said that he himself had been abused as a child, and he did not handle that well. He called the victim brave for coming forward.
In announcing the sentence, Judge Whitaker said she was not making the decision lightly.
She noted that the case was about a child's trust being 'violated in the worst way possible.'
She added that she knew if the case had gone to trial, the jury would have given him a life sentence.
Whitaker said that she hoped that while Burdine was incarcerated he would take advantage of the treatment offered to him, both for his own abuse and for rehabilitation from the crime.
Should Burdine be paroled, he would be on the Sex Offender Registry for life.