Kellen Winslow Jr. — while in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing on multiple counts of kidnapping, rape, indecent exposure and burglary — was also arraigned on a rape charge for an incident that allegedly occurred 15 years ago.
The former Jets tight end was accused of raping an unconscious 17-year-old female in a San Diego home in 2003, when the now 34 year old was 19, the USA Today reported.
Deputy district attorney Dan Owens declined comment when asked whether the alleged victim, now 32, had felt encouraged to voice her accusation after Winslow’s arrest last month made headlines. Since she was under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged incident, Owens explained, California law allows her to come forward now, with no time limit on when the accused can be charged.
Owens confirmed the alleged victim’s case met the standards under state law, which require a sex-crimes case involving a minor from years ago to be filed within a year of the person making the allegation and for that case to have some independent corroborating evidence, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Winslow’s attorney told the newspaper the woman in question had previously admitted to having romantic relations with his client.
Winslow pleaded not guilty Thursday to the new charges and to all other charges he faces, on which, if convicted, his sentence could be up to life in prison.
The retired NFL pro heard the testimonies of the two women he is accused of raping during hearings Wednesday and Thursday. The 54-year-old woman caused a stir in the San Diego courtroom on Wednesday when she identified Winslow’s attorney, Brian Watkins, as her assailant. Watkins, sitting beside Winslow at the time, later told the USA Today his defense team would use the woman’s reference as reason to doubt her testimony.
“Well, she did not describe our defense and our client and didn’t ID him in court,” Watkins told USA Today. “She ID’d me. I didn’t have anything to do with this. You better not write that I did.”
Winslow allegedly kidnapped and raped the 54-year-old woman on March 13, then the 58-year-old woman on May 13. He was originally arrested on June 7 on a burglary charge, which turned into two counts of attempted burglary the judge reduced to misdemeanors Thursday.
The preliminary hearing for the new case is scheduled for Aug. 17.