SAN DIEGO — Opening statements began Monday in the rape trial of ex-NFL tight end Kellen Winslow II, who faces life imprisonment if convicted of a litany of charges related to allegations of rape, kidnapping and exposing himself to several women.
Winslow, 35, the son of former San Diego Chargers legend Kellen Winslow, was first charged with raping two women in Encinitas in early 2018, as well as exposing himself to another woman as she was gardening in her front yard.
Following the initial charges, another woman came forward alleging that Winslow raped her in 2003 at a home in Scripps Ranch when she was 17 and Winslow was 19.
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Then earlier this year, while out on bail, Winslow was arrested again for allegedly exposing himself to a 77-year-old woman at a Carlsbad gym. Bail was revoked following his arrest in that case, in which he faces misdemeanor charges of lewd conduct, elder abuse and battery of an elder. His felony charges include rape, kidnapping, forcible oral copulation and sodomy by force.
Winslow's trial is expected to last into the middle of next month at the Vista courthouse.
The case involves allegations that on March 17, 2018, Winslow lured a 54-year-old hitchhiker into his Hummer for a ride, then raped her.
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On May 13, 2018, prosecutors allege that the defendant picked up a 58- year-old homeless woman that he knew from a prior encounter and offered to take her to have coffee, but instead took her to a secluded area and raped her.
Nearly two weeks after that incident, Winslow allegedly took his pants off in front of a woman attending to her garden in Cardiff.
Winslow was also initially charged with two burglary counts for allegedly breaking into the homes of a 71-year-old and an 86-year-old woman on June 1 and June 7, with prosecutors alleging that he intended to rape both women. A judge reduced both counts to misdemeanor trespassing charges at a preliminary hearing last year.
News of the charges against Winslow prompted the third alleged rape victim to come forward, she testified at an October preliminary hearing. She alleges that in 2003, Winslow raped her at a house party while she was drunk and underage.
He was out of custody on $2 million bail in connection with his felony charges before being accused of touching himself at a Carlsbad gym on Feb. 13 and asking a woman if she liked it, then committing lewd acts while sharing a hot tub with her at the same gym on Feb. 22, according to police and prosecutors.
Winslow II grew up in San Diego and attended Patrick Henry and Scripps Ranch high schools before heading to the University of Miami. He played for four NFL teams between 2004 and 2013.