The trial of Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Josh Sills on rape and kidnapping charges began Tuesday.
Sills is accused of forcing a woman to perform oral sex on him in his van for “approximately 20 minutes” in 2019, according to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com.
The trial, which Judge Daniel Padden estimates will last five days, began with opening statements on August 1.
The victim, who is only being identified by the initials MM, was allegedly ‘forcibly restrained’ by Sills in his van.
Her cousin, who spent the night with her before the alleged assault, took the stand for the arraignment Tuesday.
The trial of Eagles offensive lineman Josh Sills on rape and kidnapping charges began Tuesday
Breanna Woods testified, according to WTFthat a group of friends, including her and MM, had been to a few bars with Sills, whom they supposedly knew from high school, to meet up with them.
She alleged that the NFL player offered to drive them home and was squeezing MM’s leg on the ride to Woods’ home, where the victim was also staying.
At the house, Woods came out but MM said he’d be in ‘in a minute’. Woods said she went in and fell asleep, waking up the next morning to find MM, ‘upset and shocked’.
Prosecutors have said Sills “forcibly restrained and raped the woman” in December 2019. The defense has said it was consensual.
Deputy Mark Fehr of the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Department was also called as a witness for the prosecution, according to WTRF.
He reportedly testified that he was called to the Southeastern Medical emergency room and met with the victim, her mother and a Haven of Hope representative.
He said a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Exam) kit was conducted and sent to the sheriff’s department. He also said that she took photos of the victim that reportedly showed injuries to her left knee.
He added that the victim was “crying and sad” at the hospital.
A statement issued by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said the incident was reported immediately and a detailed investigation was conducted by the county sheriff’s office.
According to the woman, Sills dropped her and her cousin off at her cousin’s house, where she was staying at the time. But as her cousin was allowed to get out of the car and into her home, Sills grabbed the alleged victim and “put her back in the truck.”
The woman says Sills grabbed her by the ponytail and tried to kiss her as she told him to stop. But with her cousin inside the house, Sills allegedly tried to remove the woman’s pants.
Sills was an undrafted free agent who appeared in just one game last season for the Eagles.
“(Sills) kept touching me down there,” the woman told police, adding that he forced her to have oral sex with him.
The two have known each other for eight years, he said.
Officers took photos of the injuries to the woman’s face and neck. In addition, a nurse told police that she found bruises on the back of the woman’s throat and on her inner lip.
A grand jury indicted Sills, 25, on felony rape and felony kidnapping.
The rookie, who played at West Virginia and Oklahoma State, was indicted Jan. 31 by a Guernsey County grand jury. His attorney, Michael Connick, has said the allegations are false and that Sills will be vigorously defended.
Sills was listed as a backup guard and played just four snaps on special teams against the Cardinals on October 9, the only game he played.
He was on the inactive list for most of the year and was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list after he was indicted, meaning he couldn’t practice, play or travel with the Eagles as they prepared for their Super matchup. Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs. .
