Who Is Kellen Winslow Jr.? New Details On The EX-NFL Player Who's Facing 8 Rape And Kidnapping Charges
He's the son of former pro Kellen Winslow.
getty Whether or not you’re a fan of the NFL, there’s no doubt the league has a major problem with domestic violence and rape.
It seems like there are reports everyday about another player being accused of these atrocities, and rarely do the alleged victims get repose and closure. And it’s nothing new; USA Today even has a database of all the arrests of current and former players, though some are for drug offenses.
But one ex-NFL star is facing the music and consequences of his actions. Who is Kellen Winslow Jr.?
Winslow played on the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New York Jets but was eventually suspended for using performance-enhancing substances. And on June 10, he was convicted of rape, indecent exposure, and a lewd act in public conduct.
Winslow was first arrested last June and charged with felony first-degree murder; a week later, he was arrested on charges of kidnapping and rape, for which he was accused of raping two women who had similar stories of the sexual assault. That same month, he was charged with raping a 17-year-old in 2003. Though he was found guilty of those charges, the judge in his trial declared a mistrial on eight additional charges.
What do we know about the victims in this case? All five women who accused him testified during the trial. Winslow was convicted for raping a 58-year old homeless woman, as well as a 54-year-old hitchhiker, and the aforementioned unconscious teenager. According to police, he raped the two women and exposed himself to a fourth woman last year. He also committed lewd acts in front of an elderly woman.
As a result of his conviction, he faces up to nine to 15 years in prison, and must register as a sex offender.
Winslow’s attorneys plan to appeal all three convictions, but according to prosecutor Dan Owens, the jurors believed Winslow was guilty of raping more than just one woman.
“Ten jurors did feel very strongly that he had committed forcible sexual offenses against more than one victim. That would lead to a lifetime prison term and that would be another factor that we would consider very strongly in determining how to proceed with the case,” he revealed.
For his family, however, they were “shocked by that verdict.” His family, including his father, Kellen Winslow (a former Chargers player and Hall of Famer), sat behind Winslow everyday of the trial. Said Emily Bahr, his defense lawyer, “They’re upset, of course, disappointed by that outcome, but they know that the team is going to move forward and continue to fight the case.”
And what does Winslow think of all this? According to Fox 5, he maintains his innocence:
“I’m innocent. To the people who know me out there, who know what type of person I am, know my character, my NFL friends and family, just my regular friends and family... they know who I am. And I’m an innocent guy. I’m an innocent man... It’s a money grab, and unfortunately, that’s the society we live in now.”
Samantha Maffucci is an editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.