Walpole coach surrenders to police in Ariz.
Accused of raping student
By Erin Ailworth and Benjamin Paulin
Globe Staff And Globe Correspondent / December 28, 2008

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The former coach of the Walpole High football team that won a state football championship this month turned himself in to police in Tucson last night after he was charged with raping a student at the school.
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Daniel Villa, an Arizona native, turned himself in just before 9 p.m., one day after a warrant for his arrest was issued in Wrentham District Court.

Villa, who played six years for the New England Patriots, faces three counts of rape of a child over 14, and three counts of enticing a minor, police said.

Police believe the only victim was a female Walpole High student-athlete. The crimes occurred in the past several months, said Walpole Police Chief Richard Stillman. He would not elaborate on the details of the case.

However, a source close to the investigation said Villa came to police attention after learning of text messages between Villa and the alleged victim that contained “inappropriate stuff.”

Adam Riegel, a senior at the school and one of the captains of the football team, said the news about his former coach came as a shock.

“It’s awful, knowing him the way I know him, just how close we were to him. It’s unfathomable,” Riegel said.

“He’s innocent until proven guilty,” Riegel added. “Having known the man the way I did, I felt it was important that I stepped up and say that he was a fantastic coach and a fantastic man who always wanted to help us.”

Yesterday afternoon, Walpole High School principal Alan Bernstein sent a note to parents, saying the school administration “will do everything that we can to support our students, protect any and all alleged victims, and keep the orderly operation of the high school as our highest priorities,” according to a copy of the message provided to the Globe by a former student.

He added that guidance and counseling staff will be available at the high school tomorrow for students. The school is closed for the holidays until Jan. 5.

Police thought Villa, 44, a Walpole resident, was going to turn himself in late Friday, said Stillman, but he did not show up. Then, just before 9 p.m. yesterday, Tucson police informed Walpole investigators that Villa was in custody. According to the Pima County jail, Villa is being held without bond on a fugitive warrant.

“To be that far away from here was not a good place to be and it definitely gave us reason to believe he might not come back,” Stillman said. “We’re gratified he’s now in custody.”

Villa’s lawyer, Heather V. Baer, said in a statement last night that Walpole police were told Friday that Villa would surrender tomorrow after returning from Arizona.

“On learning this afternoon that Arizona police were nevertheless seeking to arrest him on the Massachusetts charges, Mr. Villa turned himself in to local authorities,” the statement said. “Mr. Villa intends to plead not guilty at his arraignment in Massachusetts.”

The investigation began when Walpole school superintendent Lincoln Lynch notified police after learning of an “allegation of criminal misconduct” by Villa, police said. Lynch placed Villa on paid administrative leave Tuesday morning, and he resigned later that morning from his posts as coach and athletic director.

There was no answer at the phone number listed to Villa in Walpole last night, nor at relatives’ home in Arizona.

Villa led his team to the Eastern Massachusetts Division II Championship against Mansfield at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 6. He played offensive guard, tackle, and center during his 11-year professional career, which spanned from 1987 to 1998.

Villa played for the Patriots, Phoenix Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, and Carolina Panthers. He started 77 games in his 157-game career.

Globe correspondents John M. Guilfoil and Padraig Shea contributed to this report. Erin Ailworth can be reached at eailworth@globe.com.