Portland security guard charged with rape, police suspect more victims

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - A 43-year-old drug store security guard was arrested Tuesday and charged with abusing his authority to rape at least one victim, according to the Multnomah County District Attorney.

According to the DA, Daniel Luis Cassinelli was arraigned Wednesday for charges of rape, sodomy and sexual abuse.

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FOX 12 spoke with the person who was attacked, and she said she’s been suffering from PTSD and anxiety attacks since this traumatic incident happened to her seven years ago and feels relieved seeing the case move forward.

“It’s been a very tough day,” Maryann Stott said. “I’m still kind of overwhelmed with it actually making to court and this far.”

Stott saw her alleged attacker for the first time since 2015.

“I got to watch the process through webex,” Stott said. “Very hard seeing this person I haven’t seen since the incident seven years ago.”

She said in January 2015 she was shopping at a Rite Aid in Downtown Portland, a store she had been to many times before, when she said an employee accused her of shoplifting.

“I froze at the moment when he turned around he mentioned he had seen me before doing something like shoplifting, which isn’t true,” Stott said.

According to court documents, Cassinelli was working in loss prevention at the Rite Aid when he accused Stott of shoplifting. The documents said he then escorted her to a room downstairs before allegedly forcing her to perform sex acts. He’s now facing four counts of first-degree rape and two counts of sex abuse.

Stott said she remembers running out of Rite Aid and getting help.

“My instinct was just to go to the hospital. I was just piecing together what just happened to me and I got to St. Vincent and made a call to the police,” Stott said.

Investigators and prosecutors said they believe there may be other victims. Stott said that’s why she’s sharing her story.

“I hope by just letting my story out there that maybe someone will recognize this predator and will hopefully call the Portland Police,” Stott said.

And said this begins a new chapter in her journey.

“I am finally healing and I don’t consider myself a victim. I’m a survivor,” Stott said.

The Portland Police Bureau and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office are asking anyone who has more information to contact the Portland Police Bureau Detectives.

We had reached out to Rite Aid for comment and have not heard back.

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