Jury selection set to begin in Tony Zendejas rape case
Former NFL place-kicker Tony Zendejas is set to stand trial Tuesday morning on charges that he raped and sodomized a woman after allegedly drugging her at his San Dimas restaurant.
Trial proceedings will begin with jury selection in Pomona Superior Court, said James Reiss, one of Zendejas's private defense attorneys.
Prosecutors accuse Zendejas of spiking a patron's drink with GHB in January 2008 at Zendejas Mexican Restaurant on Arrow Highway, then raping and sodomizing the woman at a nearby Red Roof Inn.
Zendejas, who kicked for the Los Angeles Rams from 1991 to 1994, has pleaded not guilty to the four felony counts filed by prosecutors.
The Yorba Linda resident maintains he did not drug the woman, and says the sex they had at the motel was consensual, Reiss said.
Reiss said he expects testimony in the case to take four days -- two for the prosecution, and two for the defense.
"I would think by next week we'll get a verdict," Reiss said.
Reiss said he believes Zendejas will testify, but will not decide whether to put his client on the witness stand until after the prosecution has completed its case.
"(Zendejas) wants to clear his name," Reiss said.
Click here for past stories on Zendejas' case.
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