San Diego

Ex-NFL Player Kellen Winslow Jr. Targeted Older Women: Complaint

He was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on a felony count of first-degree burglary

Over a three-month span, Former NFL Player Kellen Winslow Jr. raped or attempted to rape at least four women over the age of 50, according to court documents detailing charges against him. 

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.

On Thursday, he was arrested for a second time at his Encinitas home after a warrant was issued and faced additional sexual assault, kidnapping and sodomy charges from incidents dating back to March 17, according to the complaint. 

Court documents revealed Winslow had entered the senior community on June 7 with the intent to rape an 86-year-old woman who was sleeping inside her home. 

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. Both alleged victims were transients.

He had attempted to rape a 71-year-old woman and burglarized her property on June 1 and had indecently exposed himself in public on May 24, the DA's office said. 

San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) Lt. Michael Blevins said the alleged sex crimes happened in the Encinitas area but did not give specifics. The department said deputies were surveilling Winslow but did not specify what prompted it or when it began. The SDSO also would not say when the first incident involving Winslow was reported to law enforcement.

Winslow pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail based on "clear and convincing" evidence he poses a threat to the community and is considered a flight risk.

"These charges are extremely serious and it is clear to the people that these were committed against the most vulnerable victims in society," prosecutor Dan Owens said. "The fact that they had the courage to come forward and report these criminal offenses -- we take them very seriously and the moment that we were able to proceed with the filing of charges, we did so."

If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to life in prison. His next court date is scheduled for June 25.

On the day Winslow was first arrested, the person who reported the incident to SDSO tried confronting the man β€” later identified as Winslow β€” because the person did not recognize him. The man said he confronted Winslow and Winslow said he was looking for a red dog named Clifford.

The person, who did not want to be identified, took photos of Winslow's SUV  that helped SDSO deputies track Winslow down and arrest him a few blocks away.

The SDSO told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Monday that Winslow has given inconsistent and varied statements relating to his presence in the mobile home.

Winslow's publicist Denise White says he was at the park to look for a home for his mother-in-law and that his wife attends church with the elderly couple that lives in the mobile home where he was seen. She says nothing was touched.

White released a statement from defense attorney Harvey A. Steinberg saying Winslow looks forward to being vindicated.

Winslow spent five hours in a north San Diego County jail before posting bail. When he walked out of the jail, he nodded to a photographer who was waiting at the top of the steps but did not say anything about the charges. 

Winslow Jr. is the son of former San Diego Chargers great Kellen Winslow Sr. The elder Winslow and his wife released a statement Friday after court proceedings:

β€œOn behalf of our son and my husband, we want to reiterate our love, support and affection for him during this difficult process. We will always be there for him and we know the true facts will come out.”

Winslow Jr. 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.

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