Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

WRENTHAM, Mass. (AP) -- Bail for a former NFL lineman and high school football coach charged with raping a 15-year-old female student has been reduced to $7,500.

Kevin Bowe, a spokesman for the Norfolk district attorney's office, said a judge in Wrentham District Court reduced Daniel Villa's bail from $100,000 today. But Bowe said the 44-year-old Villa will remain in custody pending the installation of a GPS monitoring system. His next court date is Jan. 7.

Villa played six seasons for the New England Patriots during a 12-year NFL career and was coach at Walpole High School. He pleaded not guilty yesterday to three counts of rape of a child and three counts of enticing a minor under age 16.

The judge has ordered Villa to stay away from the girl and her family, Walpole schools and any children under 16 except his own.

Prosecutors said Villa was the girl's basketball coach before she entered high school. He was charged after her parents allegedly found hundreds of text messages she received from the man.

The Boston Herald reported that Villa's wife of 18 years has filed for divorce and custody of their four children.

 Tags  Danny Villa Patriots

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