NFL and NEW England Patriot Alumni Arrested on Child Rape

January 1st, 2009 Posted By Pat Dollard.

12 year NFL vet and America’s best High School football coach..

WCVB:

WALPOLE, Mass. — A former New England Patriots player and high school football “Coach Of The Year” surrendered to police in Arizona on Saturday to face charges of child rape.

Daniel Villa, 44, was charged by Walpole police after a female student made the charge. Villa faces three counts of rape of a child over 14 and three counts of enticing a minor.

Villa, who played in the NFL for 12 seasons, including six with the Patriots, led one of the most successful high school football programs in the state. Walpole capped an undefeated season with a championship earlier this month.

School Superintendent Lincoln Lynch said he was first notified of a “credible parent complaint” against Villa on Monday night. Lynch contacted Walpole police and a criminal investigation was launched.

“Early Tuesday morning, the superintendent met him at the door and put him on administrative leave,” said police Chief Richard Stillman.

The student making the charge is a female Walpole High student-athlete. The Boston Globe reported that Villa and the girl exchanged text messages in the past several months that contained “inappropriate stuff.”

The warrant for his arrest was issued Friday in Wrentham, Massachusetts District Court.

Police believe the only victim was a Walpole High student-athlete.

The crimes occurred in the past several months, Walpole Police Chief Richard Stillman told The Globe.

Villa resigned on Tuesday as Walpole's football coach and athletic director after being confronted with the allegations by school Superintendent Lincoln Lynch, according to reports.

Villa's lawyer, Heather V. Baer issued a statement by e-mail saying that Villa had originally planned to surrender December 29.

"On learning this afternoon that Arizona police were nevertheless seeking to arrest him on the Massachusetts charges, Mr. Villa turned himself in to local authorities," the statement said. "Mr. Villa intends to plead not guilty at his arraignment in Massachusetts."

DEDHAM, Mass. (AP)—A former NFL lineman and high school football coach in Walpole has been released on bail as he awaits trial on charges he raped a 15-year-old girl.

Daniel Villa posted $7,500 bail Tuesday and was fitted for an electronic monitoring bracelet.

The conditions of Villa’s bail include staying away from children under 16.

The judge declined to say where Villa will be staying. His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 28.

Villa played six seasons for the New England Patriots during a 12-year NFL career. He pleaded not guilty last week to charges including three counts of rape of a child over 14.

Prosecutors say Villa was once the girl’s coach, and at one point sent her 500 text message in a single month.