New York Post

BAILED OUT TO ‘RAPE’

Nonprofit under fire

- By LARRY CELONA, KEVIN SHEEHAN and RUTH BROWN

A New York nonprofit bailed bai out a thug with a lengthy length rap sheet — who was arrested for allegedly raping and robbing a Bronx teacher just a week later.

Sources say The Bronx Freedom Fund fronted $1,000 to spring Lynneke Burris, 30, from jail on April 5 after he was busted for allegedly punching a man in the face and carrying crack.

The next week, he was arrested in the assault of a 23-year-old high-school English teacher in her Concourse Village, Bronx, apartment building.

Burris, from Brooklyn, followed the woman into the building’s elevator around 12:30 a.m. on April 12 and he put her in a chokehold until she passed out, court documents allege.

He then dragged her to a stairwell — and once she came to, he allegedly threatened to kill her, ordering her to remove her clothes before raping her.

Afterward, Burris demanded she hand over her wallet and PIN code — then fled and withdrew more than $200 from her bank account, according to prosecutor­s.

Burris pleaded not guilty on Monday in Bronx Supreme Court, where his attorney successful­ly petitioned for him to receive protec- tive custody and medical attention.

He’s due back in court on Aug. 14 and faces up to 25 years for the top charge of first-degree rape.

“This defendant is charged with allegedly choking the victim until she lost consciousn­ess and dragging her into a stairwell, and when she regained consciousn­ess the defendant allegedly threatened to kill her, sexually assaulted her and robbed her,” said Bronx DA Darcel Clark. “We will pursue justice for this brutalized young woman.”

Burris has a lengthy criminal history, including an arrest for robbery in February — when he allegedly punched a man before stealing his wallet — and assault in March, according to police.

He also has a number of prior sealed cases.

The Bronx Freedom Fund is a charity that provides bail for people accused of misdemeano­r crimes.

“Our goal is to keep people in their communitie­s while they await trial,” its Web site says.

The nonprofit was recently expanded into a national organizati­on called The Bail Project, which has secured at least $30 million in funding from the likes of British billionair­e Richard Branson and record executive Jason Flom.

Neither The Bronx Freedom Fund nor The Bail Project returned requests for comment.

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