NBC 7’s Nicole Gomez reports from Vista on the pre-trial hearing for former NFL player Kellen Winslow, Jr. who is accused of sex crimes and burglary.
A San Diego judge ruled Thursday there is sufficient evidence to try former NFL player Kellen Winslow, Jr. on allegations of sexual assault involving several women.
Winslow is accused of raping or attempting to rape at least four women over the age of 50 over a three-month span of time, according to court documents.
Late Thursday, he was also charged with felony charges of forcible rape and rape of an unconscious woman in connection with a June 2003 incident.
Winslow, 34, was first arrested on June 7 after a report of a possible burglary in Park Encinitas, a senior community located on North El Camino Real, east of Interstate 5 and north of Encinitas Boulevard.
At the time, he faced first-degree burglary charges.
He was later accused of sexual assault, kidnapping and sodomy in connection with incidents dating back to March 17, according to the complaint.
Court documents revealed Winslow had entered the senior community on June 7. Prosecutors say Winslow intended to rape an 86-year-old woman who was sleeping inside her home.
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The complaint alleges Winslow also raped a 54-year-old woman and a 59-year-old woman on March 17 and May 13, respectively, in his SUV.
One of the women accusing Winslow of rape testified Thursday that she was choked and told she would be killed if she screamed.
The woman testified she knew Winslow as “Kevin” and would see him occasionally in downtown Encinitas near the Coaster station.
On May 13, the woman told San Diego County Sheriff’s Department officials that she got into a Hummer with Kevin.
She said when Kevin stopped and offered to get her coffee, she said she agreed.
“He just took a U-Turn and that was when I knew I was in trouble,” she testified.
Winslow got out of the car and she locked the door.
“I knew I had no hope. He had the keys,” she said.
She testified that the man she knew as Kevin had sex with her in the front seat area of the Hummer with the door open. When the man turned her around and began anal sex, she said she screamed out in pain.
“He said if I scream, he will kill me," the woman said, adding that the man used both hands to choke her.
Under cross-examination, the woman was asked about her decision to get into the Hummer that night.
"Saying yes to coffee does not mean saying yes to rape," the woman told the defense attorney.
Three of the crimes occurred within a mile to 1.5 miles from Winslow's home, prosecutors established.
Jane Doe 1 was picked up 500 to 1,000 feet from Winslow's home on Lake Drive and raped less than 4,000 feet from the location of her pickup, a sheriff's detective testified.
The detective testified Jane Doe 2 was picked up on Vulcan Avenue and raped along Manchester Avenue.
A man exposed himself to Jane Doe 3 on Lake Drive on Birmingham, the official testified.
All three crimes occurred within a mile to 1.5 miles from Winslow's home, the sheriff's detective said.
Winslow pleaded not guilty and was initially held without bail based on "clear and convincing" evidence he poses a threat to the community and is considered a flight risk.
On Thursday, the judge set bail at $2 million.
If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to life in prison.
Defense attorney Harvey A. Steinberg said Winslow looks forward to being vindicated.
Winslow, the son of former San Diego Chargers great Kellen Winslow Sr., grew up in San Diego and graduated from Scripps Ranch High School before playing his college football at the University of Miami.
His NFL career started with the Cleveland Browns in 2004 and included stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots and New York Jets.
