Former Walpole football coach appears in Arizona court

By Globe Staff

A former Walpole High School football coach will not be returned to Massachusetts to face child rape charges until at least next week, when an extradition hearing has been scheduled in Tucson.

Daniel Villa, 44, of Walpole made his initial appearance today in Arizona Superior Court, where he was seen by a magistrate via video from the Pima County jail. He is being held on $50,000 bail pending an extradition hearing, which has been scheduled for Jan. 6.

Villa, who played six years for the New England Patriots during his professional football career, faces three counts of rape of a child over 14, and three counts of enticing a minor. Police believe the only victim was a female Walpole High student-athlete.

Prosecutors in Arizona do not expect Villa to fight extradition because he turned himself in on Saturday to face the charges, said David Berkman, chief criminal deputy for the Pima County attorney’s office. Villa's attorney, Heather Virginia Baer, did not return a phone message today seeking comment.

When Villa is returned to Massachusetts he will be booked in Walpole and arraigned in Wrentham District Court, said David Traub, spokesman for the Norfolk district attorney's office.

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